English Skills with Readings 7th Edition by John Langan

Exercise 20

In each outline, cross out the items that do not support the opening point. These items must be omitted in order to achieve paragraph unity.
1. The cost of raising a child keeps increasing.
a. School taxes get higher every year.
b. A pair of children's sneakers can now cost over $100.
c. Overpopulation is a worldwide problem.
d. Providing nutritious food is more costly because of inflated prices.
e. Children should work at age sixteen.
2. My father's compulsive gambling hurt our family life.
a. We were always short of money for bills.
b. Luckily, my father didn't drink.
c. My father ignored his children to spend time at the racetrack.
d. Gamblers'Anonymous can help compulsive gamblers.
e. My mother and father argued constantly.
3. There are several ways to get better mileage in your car.
a. Check air pressure in tires regularly.
b. Drive at no more than fifty-five miles per hour.
c. Orange and yellow cars are the most visible.
d. Avoid jackrabbit starts at stop signs and traffic lights.
e. Always have duplicate ignition and trunk keys.
4. My swimming instructor helped me overcome my terror of the water.
a. He talked with me about my fears.
b. I was never good at sports.
c. He showed me how to hold my head under water and not panic.
d. I held on to a floating board until I was confident enough to give it up.
e. My instructor was on the swimming team at his college.
5. Fred Wilkes is the best candidate for state governor.
a. He has fifteen years' experience in the state senate.
b. His son is a professional football player.
c. He has helped stop air and water pollution in the state.
d. His opponent has been divorced.
e. He has brought new industries and jobs to the state.