Question

which sentence would best fit at the beginning of a first paragraph and would also make the best topic sentence? a. as hot water rises through limestone, it dissolves large quantities of rock. b. these hot springs are quite different from thermal areas elsewhere in the park. c. because there is a great deal of limestone in the water, rock formations grow extremely rapidly. d. mammoth hot springs is a popular attraction because the springs are unique.

Answer 1

The sentence that would best fit at the beginning of a first paragraph and would also make the best topic sentence is: Mammoth hot springs is a popular attraction because the springs are unique. The correct answer would be option D. This sentence is the correct answer because it is the only sentence that introduces the topic.

Answer 2

When initiating a paragraph, or a document, it is really important to take into account that the first sentences will not only capture the reader´s interest, but will also let him/her know about the topic, or theme, on which the document will be talking. As such, usually, unless the writer wants the reader to not glimpse the topic right away, the topic will be specified at the very first sentences within the opening paragraph. To do this, it is important for the writer to clarify what it is he/she will be talking about. In this case, the writer wants to talk about an attraction that is really impressive and unique, and which is completely natural; the hot springs. In order for the writer to make this clear to the reader, he must introduce the topic and then describe, or further explain, the reasons behind his/her argument, or main topic. From the choices given, then, the best one would be D: Mammoth hot springs are a popular attraction because the springs are unique, because this sentence lets us know what the whole paragraph will be about. If he started with the others, he would be telling us the descriptions of a hot spring, but we would not know that this is the topic to which the descriptions are refering.