Name: ______________________ Class: _________________ Date: _________
Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs Unit 6: Definition Paragraphs
INSTRUCTIONS: Read the paragraph. Complete each sentence with the correct word or
phrase from the box. You will not use all the words.
Teamwork
The Newbury House Dictionary of American English defines the word teamwork as “a cooperative
effort with each person working to reach a common goal.” There are many situations when teamwork is
more effective than working alone. This is most obvious when people are part of a sports team such as
football or basketball. Each player on the team has a specific role, but they must rely on each other in
their effort to win. Teamwork is also essential in the workplace. People work side by side on individual
tasks, but often need to collaborate and share responsibilities. Finally, teamwork happens among family
members at home. By practicing good communication skills and supporting each other, families strive to
live in harmony. Whether in a sports team, at work, or in the home, individuals can contribute to
positive outcomes when they practice good teamwork skills.
four definition quotation marks supporting teamwork three word
1. This definition paragraph defines a ________________.
2. This paragraph explains situations where ________________ is important.
3. The writer gives ________________ situations to make the definition clear to readers.
4. In this paragraph, ________________ are used to cite exact words from a source.
5. All of the ________________ sentences relate to the topic.
INSTRUCTIONS: Determine if the punctuation in each sentence is correct. Look for errors in
quotation marks, commas, periods, and question marks. Choose “C” for correct, or “I” for
incorrect.
6. If you do not understand what someone has said, you can always ask “Could you please repeat that”?
_____
7. According to the Newbury House Dictionary of American English a compliment, is an expression of
praise, admiration or congratulations. _____
8. In William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, we read the famous line, “Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend
me your ears.” _____
9. The Newbury House Dictionary of American English defines the word supplement as “something added
to an existing thing to complete or improve it.” _____
© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 1
Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 6 Test
Name: ______________________
10. When you meet someone for the first time in the United States, “it is polite to say,” It is nice to meet
you. _____
INSTRUCTIONS: Read the paragraph. Then read the sentences. Choose “T” if the sentence is
true, or “F” if it is false.
The Au Pair Exchange
(a) An au pair is a person who is employed to live with a family and take care of their children. (b)
Au pair is a French phrase that originally meant “on equal terms.” (c) There is an important component
that puts an au pair “on equal terms” with the family they work for. (d) In exchange for taking care of
the children in the family, an au pair receives room and board. (e) Being an au pair is especially popular
for young adults who want to learn another language. (f) For example, an American who wants to
become more fluent in Spanish might choose to be an au pair in Mexico for a year. (g) During that time,
the au pair has an amazing opportunity to learn another language and culture while becoming part of a
family. (h) It is also common for au pairs to enroll in language classes at a university near the family’s
home. (i) Ideally, au pairs receive college credits that can be transferred to a university in their home
country. (j) On the whole, the au pair arrangement is beneficial to all involved, often resulting in close
friendships for many years to come.
____ 11. In sentence (a), the adjective clause describes the noun family.
____ 12. There is a subject adjective clause in sentence (c).
____ 13. There is an object adjective clause in sentence (e).
____ 14. There is not an adjective clause in sentence (g).
____ 15. In sentence (i), the adjective clause describes the noun credits.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose the best way to combine the two sentences using an adjective
clause.
____ 16. Owning a pet is a big responsibility. Not everyone can handle owning a pet.
a. Owning a pet is a big responsibility who not everyone can handle.
b. Owning a pet is a big responsibility not everyone can handle owning it.
c. Owning a pet is a big responsibility that not everyone can handle.
____ 17. The committee chairperson introduced the speaker. The woman talked about fundraising opportunities.
a. The committee chairperson introduced the woman who talked about fundraising
opportunities.
b. The committee chairperson introduced the woman talked about fundraising
opportunities.
c. The committee chairperson introduced the woman which talked about fundraising
opportunities.
© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 2
Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 6 Test
Name: ______________________
____ 18. The restaurant will make the sandwiches. We will bring the sandwiches to the picnic tomorrow.
a. The restaurant will make the sandwiches that we will bring to the picnic tomorrow.
b. The restaurant will make the sandwiches we will bring them to the picnic tomorrow.
c. The restaurant will make the sandwiches who we will bring to the picnic tomorrow.
____ 19. Steve Jobs and his team at Apple invented the iPhone. The iPhone is perhaps the most popular
smartphone brand.
a. Steve Jobs and his team at Apple invented the iPhone which is perhaps the most
popular smartphone brand.
b. Steve Jobs and his team at Apple invented the iPhone is perhaps the most popular
smartphone brand.
c. Steve Jobs and his team at Apple invented the iPhone that it is perhaps the most
popular smartphone brand.
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete each sentence with the correct word or phrase from the box to
create sentence variety. You will not use all the words.
brilliant and talented and during the storm in the future
so straight and narrow that we want who lives nearby
20. Hassan did not have enough chairs for his party, ________________ he asked his neighbors to bring a
few more.
21. The apartment ________________ is not available for rent until next month.
22. Leonardo Da Vinci was a ________________ Renaissance artist who is most famous for painting the
Mona Lisa.
23. The water in the river surged to a height of 12 feet ________________.
24. The team will play in the finals on Saturday, ________________ if they win, they will be the
champions.
INSTRUCTIONS: Complete the sentences with the best word in parentheses.
25. This apartment complex offers its________________ (resides / residents) a social hour every Friday
evening.
26. Today’s weather report was not ________________ (accuracy / accurate). It said rain was in the
forecast, but there is not a cloud in the sky.
27. Sasha’s ________________ (careless / carelessly) work resulted in her losing her job.
28. Only an ________________ (occasion / occasional) car drives down the dead-end street. Otherwise, it is
very quiet.
© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 3
Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 6 Test
Name: ______________________
29. Carl and Leah were pleased with how ________________ (expert / expertly) the exterior of their house
was painted.
INSTRUCTIONS: Choose the correct word or phrase to complete each sentence. You will not
use all the words.
experts floods in advance occasionally regardless of regional thick
30. The cooking class specializes in Indian ________________ cuisine and focuses on the different herbs
and spices used around India.
31. Incoming students receive a reading list ________________ of the new school year. They are expected
to read several novels during the summer.
32. Leila rides her bike to work ________________ the weather. She likes the exercise, and it saves her
money.
33. The walls in the hotel room were not very ________________, so we easily heard the TV in the room
next to us.
34. The causes of ________________ are usually heavy rainfall, strong winds, and other weather related
events.
INSTRUCTIONS: Match each phrase to the word that best completes the collocation. You will
not use all the words.
a. destroy
b. exceed
c. on purpose
d. region
e. resident
f. respected
g. track
____ 35. the speed limit
____ 36. a(n) ________________ individual
____ 37. keep ________________ of time
____ 38. do something ________________
____ 39. a densely populated ________________
© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 4
Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 6 Test
Name: ______________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Combine the ideas into one sentence. You may change the word forms, but
do not change or omit any ideas. There may be more than one correct answer.
40. The writing workshop will be tomorrow.
The writing workshop will take place online.
It will run for at least two hours.
_____________________________________________________________________
41. Beethoven was a classical music composer.
He was admired and prolific.
He is famous for his nine symphonies.
_____________________________________________________________________
42. I attend a book club meeting once a month.
We meet at a coffee shop.
We discuss a best-selling book at each meeting.
_____________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS: Rewrite the sentence. Add quotation marks, commas, and periods where
necessary.
43. In The Newbury House Dictionary of American English the word acquit is defined as to clear someone of
a crime
_____________________________________________________________________
44. According to The Newbury House Dictionary of American English the word maintain is to keep in good
condition
_____________________________________________________________________
45. The Newbury House Dictionary of American English defines gracious as kind and polite
_____________________________________________________________________
© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 5
Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs, Fifth Edition Unit 6 Test
Name: ______________________
46. INSTRUCTIONS: Write a paragraph to define the word friendship. What does it mean to you?
What are some examples, stories, or facts that might help explain it? Write a topic sentence
with a controlling idea, 5-10 supporting sentences that relate to the topic, and end with a
concluding sentence that restates the topic or makes a prediction about it. Give your
paragraph a title. Use at least two of the vocabulary words or phrases from Unit 6.
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© 2020 National Geographic Learning, a Cengage Learning company 6