1.) They are very loving and friendly. They don’t eat much, so they are not expensive. Cats are also clean and look beautiful. They’re fun to have in your home.

2.)   The plumbing doesn't work properly and the landlord refuses to fix it. I also have noisy neighbors who keep me up all night. Furthermore, there are so many bugs in my apartment that I could start an insect collection. I really want to move.

3.)   In 1983, there were 562 computers connected to the Internet. By the turn of the century, there were 72.3 million computers in 247 countries on-line. Experts say that the Internet is now growing at a rate of approximately 40 percent a year. As time goes on, the Internet is becoming more and more popular.

4.)   First, fruits and vegetables are packed with the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body functioning smoothly. In addition, they give you the carbohydrates you need for energy. Fruits and vegetables have lots of fiber to help your digestive system work properly. Finally, many scientists believe that the nutrients in fruits and vegetables can help fight diseases. If you eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you’ll enjoy a better health.

1. Turkey is a very interesting country to visit.

2. Birds make excellent pet.

3. A really good place to study is the university library.

4. Learning the English language creates job opportunities.

5. One of the most valuable tools for students is the computer.

6. Summer is the best time to travel in my country.

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Exercise 2

A. (A paragraph on how to train a cat)

Possible topic sentences are #2 and #4.

#1 merely announces the writer's plan,

#3 is a title and not a complete sentence, and

#5 is too general.

B. (A paragraph about scuba diving)

Possible topic sentences are #4 and #5.

#1 and #2 are not complete sentences and

#3 relies on the vague word "interesting."

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Exercise 3

1.     a) Sending cards is very popular in North America.

2.     b) Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller.

3.     b) There are several factors to consider when you choose a university to attend.

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Exercise 4

Underline the topic sentence of the paragraph.

Regardless of how we spend our time, there are only 24 hours in a day. In order to do well later in life, students must develop sound time-management skills early in their academic careers. The first step is to get enough sleep at night. Students are less able to accomplish anything if they’re just too tired. But then they need to set priorities. Is one assignment due tomorrow, while another is due next week? Do tomorrow’s assignment first. It’s useful to create a schedule of upcoming tasks a few days ahead of time, and then stick to it. Each evening, the student can create a to-do list to accomplish the next day. By staying on top of school work this way, students will develop time-management skills they can use in their jobs, and even use to manage a family schedule.

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Exercise 5

Paragraph 1

I have (got) problems with my car.

I have difficulties / troubles with my car.

Paragraph 2

Paul has many hobbies.

Paul has several hobbies.

Paul has a lot of hobbies.