IXL | Remove the sentence that does not belong

Read the paragraph about ways in which the planet Kepler-186f is similar to Earth. Select the sentence that should be removed to improve the focus of the paragraph.

Five hundred light-years from Earth, in the Cygnus constellation, is a planet called Kepler-186f. It has several notable things in common with Earth, including its size—it is only about ten percent larger than Earth. It is also the first Earth-sized planet astronomers have discovered that is roughly the same distance from its star as Earth is from the sun. Such conditions suggest it is possible that Kepler-186f has liquid water, a compound necessary for life. For these reasons, astronomers think that life might exist on Kepler-186f. The distant planet might be a place where it is possible for living things to survive.

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question

Read the paragraph about Jacqueline Kennedy's time in the White House. Select the sentence that should be removed to improve the focus of the paragraph.

First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy is remembered both for her youthful energy and for the strength she showed in the face of great adversity. She was just thirty-one when she moved into the White House with her husband, President John F. Kennedy. Much of America was fascinated with the Kennedys' young family. Like the Kennedys, the Obamas were another young family that lived in the White House. Many people were captivated when Jacqueline had a sunroom transformed into a kindergarten classroom. During her time in the White House, though, she also experienced heartbreaking loss. The tragic death of a newborn son occurred in the summer of 1963, and just a few months later Jacqueline witnessed the assassination of her husband in Dallas, Texas. However, even in the wake of such devastating tragedies, she displayed tremendous poise and leadership.

key idea

When you write a paragraph, it should focus on a topic. For example, maybe your paragraph is about the tallest mountains in Colorado. Each sentence should give information that helps develop the topic:

Colorado is home to fifty-eight mountains that rise fourteen thousand feet or higher above sea level. These majestic peaks, proudly known as the 14ers, offer many opportunities for outdoor exploration. They are popular destinations for hikers, rock climbers, and skiers. Stargazers also seek out these isolated mountaintops as places to search the sky. Likewise, many adventurers flock to the 14ers to watch the uniquely adapted wildlife that thrives at these extreme elevations.

If a sentence does not help develop the topic, it should not appear in the paragraph.

red X symbol, Mt. Rainier is a 14er in the state of Washington.
This sentence is not related to the paragraph's focus, so it is off topic.
red X symbol, The peaks of the mountains are so high and remote that they provide a great place for stargazing.
This sentence is redundant because it provides information that already appears in the paragraph.
red X symbol, While hiking all of the Colorado 14ers would be neat, I think skiing down them would be exhilarating.
This sentence provides personal information that does not help develop the topic.

solution

The paragraph is about Jacqueline Kennedy's time in the White House. This sentence should be removed to improve the focus of the paragraph:

Like the Kennedys, the Obamas were another young family that lived in the White House.

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Work it out

Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

N.2Organize information by topic

R.3Remove redundant words or phrases

N.3Remove the sentence that does not belong

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