Identifying the Controlling Idea

Read the three sentences in each item and then put a check mark √ next to the best topic sentence.Finding the controlling idea in that sentence. Be prepared to explain your selections.

• _________ Most of the girls in the class get higher grades in English than the boys.

• _________ Research has shown that girls are better at languages than boys.

• _________ Many students like languages very much.

Read the three sentences in each item and then put a check mark √ next to the best topic sentence. Finding the controlling idea in that sentence. Be prepared to explain your selections.

• _________ Cats are better pets than goldfish for many reasons.

• _________ Cats and goldfish are both animals.

• _________ Cats cannot swim very well, but goldfish can.

Read the three sentences in each item and then put a check mark √ next to the best topic sentence. Finding the controlling idea in that sentence. Be prepared to explain your selections.

• _________ Yesterday I did not have lunch with my coworkers.

• _________ Yesterday I went to work late.

• _________ Yesterday was the worst day of my life.

Read the three sentences in each item and then put a check mark √ next to the best topic sentence. Finding the controlling idea in that sentence. Be prepared to explain your selections.

• _________ Some people call Paul Cézanne the father of modern art.

• _________ Paul Cézanne, the father of modern art, made important contributions to the history of art.

• _________ Paul Cézanne's art was not recognized until the end of his career, but he is often called the father of modern art.

Read the three sentences in each item and then put a check mark √ next to the best topic sentence. Finding the controlling idea in that sentence. Be prepared to explain your selections.

• _________ Many Canadians speak French, and some of them speak Chinese and Japanese.

• _________ The current population of Canada is a reflection of the international background of its citizens and immigrants.

• _________ A large number of new immigrants live in the western province of British Columbia, but not many of them speak German.