IXL | Choose the topic sentence that best captures the main idea

Review the details below.

Would-be marathon runners must be physically prepared to follow a rigorous training schedule.
Runners attempting their first marathon should have at least one year of running experience.
Training at the race site can help new runners know what to expect from a marathon-length course.

Choose the best topic sentence to introduce a paragraph containing these details.

Even experienced marathon runners must prepare for the physical and mental demands of running a 26.2 mile course.

First-time marathon runners must take steps to prepare themselves for the race.

New runners are at a distinct disadvantage if they have never run a marathon race course before.

ref_doc_title.

Learn with an example

question

Review the details below.

Wall murals depicting cheesemaking prove that it was part of ancient Egyptian culture.
In ancient Rome, many larger houses included separate cheese kitchens, where dairy products could mature.
Pottery remains with ancient dairy residue from 5000 BCE suggest that humans from that time may have kept cows, goats, and sheep in order to make cheese.

Choose the best topic sentence to introduce a paragraph containing these details.

Cheesemaking was an important custom that had a significant impact on art, architecture, and daily life in ancient Rome.

Historical accounts and ancient artifacts indicate that people have been making cheese for thousands of years.

New findings indicate that people have been raising cows and goats for longer than previously thought.

key idea

A topic sentence states the main, or central, idea of a paragraph. The rest of the paragraph provides evidence and analysis to help support or prove this idea.

When writing, be sure to craft a topic sentence that accurately synthesizes what the paragraph is about. It should not be too broad, too narrow, or off topic.

solution

First decide what the details have in common. In this case, they all provide examples of ancient civilizations that made cheese.

The topic sentence that best introduces these details is Historical accounts and ancient artifacts indicate that people have been making cheese for thousands of years. It accurately reflects the paragraph's focus, and it is supported by each of the details.

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I.2Organize information by topic

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