Which of the following sentences would be a good topic sentence?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The sentence 'Cooking requires a number of different skills that can be learned and practiced' effectively introduces the main idea of the paragraph, making it a strong topic sentence. Choice A is vague and does not clearly establish the central theme. Choice C focuses on a specific tool rather than the broader concept of cooking skills. Choice D is more about the process of learning a particular skill rather than encompassing the range of skills needed for cooking.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct definition of a homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word but has a different meaning and often different spelling. Choice A, 'Words with opposite meanings,' is incorrect as homophones do not necessarily have opposite meanings. Choice C, 'Synonyms,' is incorrect because homophones are not words with the same meaning. Choice D, 'Words with similar spellings,' is also incorrect as homophones may have different spellings.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'It's a beautiful day outside.' 'It's' is the contraction for 'it is.' Choice A is incorrect as it should be 'It's' instead of 'Its.' Choice C is incorrect as the apostrophe should come before the 's' in the contraction. Choice D is incorrect as the use of 'is'' is grammatically incorrect.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The main purpose of a thesis statement is to clearly state the main idea or argument of the essay. It serves as a roadmap for the reader, outlining the central point that the essay will address. Choice A, 'To summarize the essay,' is incorrect because while a thesis statement does provide a concise summary of the main point, its primary function is to present the main idea, not summarize the entire essay. Choice C, 'To ask a question,' is incorrect as a thesis statement is a declarative statement that asserts a position or argument rather than posing a question. Choice D, 'To provide evidence,' is incorrect because a thesis statement does not offer evidence but rather sets the direction and focus for the evidence that will be presented in the essay.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, 'She ran through the park.' This sentence is a complete sentence as it contains both a subject 'She' and a predicate 'ran through the park.' Choices A, B, and C are not complete sentences because they lack either a subject, a predicate, or both. Choice A 'Under the bed.' lacks a verb or predicate, choice B 'Although he tried his best.' is a dependent clause and does not form a complete sentence on its own, and choice C 'Running through the park.' is a phrase without a subject or a complete predicate.