Sentence combining practice g8

Sentence-Combining Practice Grade i_ii_Anc_889912.indd 23 4/7/08 3:26:49 PM Copyright © by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc All rights reserved Permission is granted to reproduce the material contained herein on the condition that such materials be reproduced only for classroom use; be provided to students, teachers, and families without charge; and be used solely in conjunction with the program Any other reproduction, for sale or other use, is expressly prohibited Send all inquiries to: Glencoe/McGraw-Hill 8787 Orion Place Columbus, OH 43240-4027 ISBN: 978-0-07-889912-6 MHID: 0-07-889912-5 Printed in the United States of America 10 024 12 11 10 09 08 i_ii_Anc_889912.indd 24 4/7/08 3:26:50 PM Contents Introduction iv Compound Sentences Compound Elements I Compound Elements II Items in a Series Modifiers Before a Noun Set-off Elements Appositives I Appositives II Possessive Nouns Adjective Phrases I 10 Adjective Phrases II 11 Verbal Phrases as Adjectives 12 Adverbs and Adverb Phrases 13 Adjective Clauses with That and Who 14 Adjective Clauses with Whom and Whose 15 Subject-Verb Agreement I 16 Subject-Verb Agreement II 17 Adverb Clauses I 18 Adverb Clauses II 19 Adverb Clauses III 20 Conjunctive Adverbs 21 But, However, Although, and Despite 22 Correlative Conjunctions 23 Noun Clauses I 24 Noun Clauses II 25 Quotations 26 Verbal Phrases as Nouns 27 Descriptive Writing I: Heat Wave 28 Descriptive Writing II: My Best Friend 29 Narrative Writing I: Video Game Mania 30 Narrative Writing II: The Great Outdoors 31 Expository Writing I: Tracking Dinosaurs 32 Expository Writing II: The Hubble Telescope 33 Persuasive Writing I: Good Nutrition 34 Persuasive Writing II: Exercise 35 Answers 36 iii Sentence-Combining Practice Introduction Sentence combining is a way to warm up before the game In the writing game, as in most others, things tend to happen at once All at the same time you’re trying to think of what to say, how to express it, how to spell the words, how to punctuate the sentences, and where to go next In this game, too, it helps if you’ve practiced each skill separately Combining sentences slows you down and gives you time to experiment The words are already there, and your task is simply to combine sentences meaningfully You don’t have to worry about what you’ll write in the following sentence or where to go next Getting Started There are two kinds of sentence-combining exercises in this book: signaled and unsignaled Signaled exercises give you specific suggestions on how to combine groups of sentences, called clusters Unsignaled (or open) sentence clusters encourage you to experiment on your own Signaled Exercises Signaled exercises help you by pointing toward particular choices, though even with these you may have more than one good option In these sentence-combining worksheets, signaling takes three forms: information is underlined, put in brackets [ ], or set in CAPITAL LETTERS To understand how these forms are used, study the examples below Underlining Certain information may be repeated in two or more sentences in a cluster Underlining shows you the words that are new The new information should be added to the new sentence a The woman turned and smiled b The woman was in the booth These sentences could be rewritten so that the repeated information (the part of b that isn’t underlined) is left out The new information is added to the following sentence: The woman in the booth turned and smiled Now try this cluster: a The woman in the booth turned and smiled b The booth was near the front Brackets When you combine two or more sentences, you may occasionally have to change slightly the form of a word; you may have to add a punctuation mark; you may have to include a signal word—or you may have to two of these things, or all three of them In signaled exercises an important clue to the change is suggested in brackets In the following cluster we’ve included in brackets the punctuation mark and the signal word iv Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Sentence-Combining Practice a He walked to the window b He couldn’t hear anything [, but] He walked to the window, but he couldn’t hear anything Notice that a comma and a coordinating conjunction are used to combine the two sentences In the following cluster we signaled an apostrophe and an s in the brackets Notice what happens to Tracy when we add the apostrophe and an s a The sweater is in the gym b The sweater belongs to Tracy [‘s] Tracy’s sweater is in the gym Punctuation marks occur singly or in pairs A pair of marks, such as [— .—], shows you one way to embed information in the middle of a sentence Study the cluster below a Deborah was much in demand at parties b Deborah was a gifted guitarist [— .—] Deborah—a gifted guitarist—was much in demand at parties Capital Letters The CAPITAL LETTERS used in the third form of signaling spell out the neutral word SOMETHING This word is often found in the first sentence of a cluster It shows where the following sentence or part of that sentence should go a He wondered SOMETHING b Someone would lift the manhole cover [who] He wondered who would lift the manhole cover a Martha asked SOMETHING b I was feeling some way [how] Martha asked how I was feeling Here are two more clusters to try Recheck the examples if you’re puzzled a We offered SOMETHING b We would pay for the tickets [to] a He asked SOMETHING b They had left for some reason [why] Unsignaled Exercises Unsignaled (or open) exercises invite you to try all sorts of combinations until you find the one you like best For example, see how many different combinations you can make from this sentence cluster a Toni was ill b Her parents were concerned Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade v Sentence-Combining Practice The possibilities are numerous Here, to give you the feel of open sentence combining, are just a few combinations: Toni was ill, and her parents were concerned Because Toni was ill, her parents were concerned Toni’s illness concerned her parents Toni’s parents were concerned about her illness You could probably come up with more versions When doing unsignaled exercises, try whispering different versions to yourself, or work with a friend or a group to try out various possibilities Listen to your friends, and listen even more carefully to your own voice Experiment and Enjoy The purpose of these sentence-combining sheets is to help you learn to enjoy writing—to help you find your own things to say and your own voice in which to say them The signals are merely a first step toward that goal You will find that in most exercises only the first few clusters will be signaled Signaling will then be phased out, except for an occasional hint at a tough spot This will allow you to start slowly each time, and if you become puzzled later on, you can go back and look again at how you did an exercise before For a review of sentence-combining hints and for further practice, turn to Unit 21 in your textbook As you work with these sheets, experiment and enjoy Listen to the sentences your friends offer, and offer them your own And listen closely to your own voice You already know more than you think you vi Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Compound Sentences Key Information A simple way to combine sentences that are closely related in meaning is to use a coordinating conjunction The coordinating conjunctions include and, but, or, for, and nor You must change the order of the subject and verb when you use nor a She tried the key again b It wouldn’t turn in the lock [, but] c It would [not] come out of the lock [, nor] She tried the key again, but it wouldn’t turn in the lock, nor would it come out of the lock ■ Directions Use a comma plus a coordinating conjunction to join the sentences in each cluster a They went to hear the concert b They took some friends along [, and] a She could go over to her friend’s house b She could talk to her on the phone [, or] a He especially liked peppers on his pizza b His friends wanted olives [, but] a We know Kelly arrived early b We saw her in the cafeteria [, for] Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc a The math problem was not solved by me b It was [not] solved by anyone [, nor] a She could borrow her friend’s blouse b She could try to mend her own [, or] a The frozen yogurt was good b The toppings were delicious [, and] c The cone was soggy [, but] a Henry shoveled five driveways to earn money b He still didn’t have enough to buy the disc player a The play was interesting b The actors were his friends c The play lasted too long 10 a The wolves were howling b The sound traveled through the cold air c We were safe in our warm cabin Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Compound Elements I Key Information Sometimes two or more sentences contain similar information By combining your sentences, you can avoid repetition One way to avoid repeating the shared information is by using compound elements a The tiger slept on the large tree branch b The tiger kept a watchful eye open [but] The tiger slept on the large tree branch but kept a watchful eye open ■ Directions Use the coordinating conjunctions and, or, and but to combine the sentences in each cluster Include only the new information (which is underlined in the first few items) from b In items 5, 9, and 10 new information also appears in c a Miguel ran down the street b Miguel stopped at the corner [but] a He forgot to take his band uniform b He forget to take his drums [and] a Her blue scarf could be worn with her jacket b Her white scarf could be worn with her jacket [or] a They are good friends b They enjoy the same sports [and] a The water in the pool was blue and inviting b The water in the pool was too cool for swimming a Lauren had read her book by the deadline b Lauren had written her book review by the deadline a The basketball hit the rim b The basketball failed to go through a They had oranges b They had tangerines c They had no grapefruit 10 a Molly picked up her flute b She picked up her music c Molly dropped her lunch Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc a The mouse was alert b The mouse was quiet [and] c The mouse was caught anyhow [but] Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Compound Elements II Key Information Sometimes two or more sentences contain similar information By combining your sentences, you can avoid repetition One way to avoid repeating the shared information is by using compound elements a The two boys picked blueberries b The two boys made a pie [and] The two boys picked blueberries and made a pie ■ Directions Use the coordinating conjunctions and, or, and but to combine the sentences in each cluster Include only the new information (which is underlined in the first few items) from b In items through new information also appears in c; in items and 10 it appears in b, c, and d a They read books while on vacation b They watched TV [or] a They read books while on vacation b They read magazines [and] a His comb had been in the suitcase b His hairbrush had been in the Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc suitcase [and] c They now were missing [but] a She was capable b She was intelligent c She was impatient a The computer game was original b The computer game was interesting c The computer game was very tricky a The weather was clear b The weather was sunny c The weather was too hot a Henry could play on the basketball team b Henry could play on the volleyball team c Henry couldn’t play on the football team a The winning team was happy b The winning team was pleased c The winning team was upset with the unruly crowd d The winning team was upset with the lack of order 10 a b c d Mark wanted to find starfish Mark wanted to find driftwood Mark usually found broken shells Mark usually found glass a Olga put lettuce in the sandwich b Olga put tomato in the sandwich [and] c Olga did not put butter in the sandwich [but] Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Items in a Series Key Information Commas are used to separate three or more items in a series A coordinating conjunction is always used before the final item in a series Usually a comma is used as well a Sara opened her locker b She took out her jacket [,] c She dropped her mittens [, and] Sara opened her locker, took out her jacket, and dropped her mittens ■ Directions Combine the sentences in each cluster so that the new information (which is underlined in the first few items) forms a series Connect the last two items in each series with the coordinating conjunction and or or a Jane played tennis b Wanda played tennis [,] c Chris played tennis [, and] a Bill cut the grass b Bill cleaned the yard [,] c Bill put the yard waste in bags [, and] a They could listen to music while a b c d She put the keys in her coat pocket She put the gloves in her coat pocket [,] She put the money in her coat pocket [, and] She then forgot to take her coat [and] a Thomas has a disc player b Thomas has two speakers c Thomas has a headset a He bought seeds b He planted the seeds c He watered the seeds a They planned the trip b They got a bus schedule c They took the bus to the museum Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Matt asked for an apple Maura requested raisins John requested raisins Ellen requested raisins a The weather could be sunny b The weather could be rainy c The weather could be snowy Luis planned the party Luis called their friends Luis ordered food Gina cleaned the recreation room e Gina made decorations f Gina set up the tape player 10 a b c d Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc waiting b They could homework while waiting [,] c They could write some letters while waiting [, or] a b c d Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Descriptive Writing I: Heat Wave 28 ■ Directions Combine each cluster into one or more sentences Combine two or more clusters if you wish 1.1 The weather was hot 1.2 It was hot and dry [—] 2.1 The summer was half over 2.2 This was the first heat wave [, and] 3.1 The blazing sun scorched the grass 3.2 The sun turned it brown [, + -ing] 4.1 Leaves on the trees were hanging limply 4.2 There were waves of the heat [because] 4.3 There was a lack of rain [and] Flies buzzed around in a way The flies were large The way was drowsy Birds flocked to the birdbath [, and] The birds were many The birds suffered from the heat [-ing] The heat was extreme 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 The dog tried to find a spot Its tongue was hanging out The spot was cool The spot was in the shade Mother made lemonade It was tart It was icy Father and Norio drank to quench their thirst [which] 7.5 Father had his necktie loosened [(with )] 7.6 Norio was thirsty from his walk home from the pool [and ( .)] 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 8.1 Later they hoped the breeze would 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 28 make them more comfortable The breeze was slight They had a picnic The picnic was under the trees The trees were in the yard Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade 10.1 The heat wave affected everyone and everything 10.2 There was no relief in sight Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Norio dropped his ice cream It was an accident [-ly] The ice cream was strawberry The ice cream melted rapidly It melted into a sticky puddle The puddle was quickly absorbed by the ground 9.7 The ground was hot and dry 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Descriptive Writing II: My Best Friend 29 ■ Directions Combine each cluster into one or more sentences Combine two or more clusters if you wish 1.1 My best friend is about my own age 1.2 My best friend is a next-door neighbor [—…—] 1.3 She is twelve 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 She moved into the house next door [Since] The house is large The house is brick She moved in two years ago We have been friends We have been close Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc 3.1 We don’t look alike 3.2 We are Velma and I 3.3 We think alike 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Velma is blond She is tall She is outgoing She is confident 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 I am brown-haired I am short I am shy I am self-conscious 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 We both enjoy walking [Nevertheless,] We walk along the lake We ride on the bikeway We read stories The stories are mysteries We play the piano 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 We share many things [In addition,] We share lunches The lunches are brown bag We share mystery stories We share videos The videos are of exercise We share compact discs We share our diaries The diaries are secret 8.1 She told me SOMETHING 8.2 “I’m happy that you are my friend.” 8.3 I am also happy that we are friends Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade 29 Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Narrative Writing I: Video Game Mania 30 ■ Directions Combine each cluster into one or more sentences Combine two or more clusters if you wish 1.1 A new player of games soon becomes interested 1.2 The games are video 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 At first, the player is defeated The player is new The defeat is easy [-ly] The games are sophisticated These defeats challenge the player [, and] 9.1 Manufacturers bring out improved 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 The player adapts to the game This happens after a short time The player develops skill [, + -ing] The player develops the desire to beat it 9.5 4.1 The player is familiar with the game [When] 4.2 He or she takes chances 4.3 He or she strives for a big score The games feature quick action The action is colorful The games have sound effects The games have excitement The player is no longer aware of anything around him or her 6.1 The player is involved with the game 6.2 The involvement is total 6.3 The player concentrates on defeating the villains 6.4 The villains are fantasy 7.1 The player becomes skilled [As soon as ] 7.2 The player is skilled at eliminating villains 7.3 The game becomes less appealing Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade 9.2 9.3 9.4 video games [Therefore] The games are more stimulating They can be found somewhere They can be found in department stores They can be found in game rooms in malls 10.1 Players are so intrigued by these games 10.2 Video game contests draw contestants 10.3 Tournaments draw hundreds of contestants 10.4 Contestants are enthusiastic 11.1 They truly have a mania 11.2 The mania is for video games Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 30 8.1 The player then moves on to games 8.2 The games are new 8.3 The games are more challenging Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Narrative Writing II: The Great Outdoors 31 ■ Directions Combine each cluster into one or more sentences Combine two or more clusters if you wish 5.4 The hard soles protected our feet 5.5 Our feet were protected from sharp 1.1 Summers were spent on the farm 1.2 Being on the farm meant being stones outside 1.3 We were outside most of the day 6.1 Sometimes we went to the creek to 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 watch We watched from the wooden bridge We watched minnows The minnows were quicksilver They darted around in the water 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Sometimes we went to find flowers The flowers were wild We went to find fruit The fruit was wild 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 There were possibilities These were endless We were eager We wanted to experience the great outdoors 2.1 For a city child, being outdoors was great 2.2 There were large open spaces to explore 2.3 There were farm animals to enjoy 2.4 The animals included a puppy and kittens [( .)] 2.5 There were birds to see 2.6 There were birds’ eggs to find 2.7 The eggs were not to touch 2.8 There was a small creek to wade in 2.9 The creek was shallow 2.10 There were many new things to surprise us 3.1 Even the chores to be done were outdoors Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc 3.2 A chore was weeding the small 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 vegetable garden and the colorful flower garden The flower garden was with its large variety of blossoms A chore was to make sure the cows got to the proper field The field was for grazing A chore was to feed the chickens and the pets The air was pure The sun was ablaze The blaze was in a deep blue The sun was ablaze almost every day 5.1 We did our chores 5.2 We did them early in the day before the sun became too hot 5.3 We wore jeans, old shirts, straw hats, and hard-soled shoes Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade 31 Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Expository Writing I: Tracking Dinosaurs 32 ■ Directions Combine each cluster into one or more sentences Combine two or more clusters if you wish 1.1 Dinosaurs have been extinct for 65 million years [Although] 1.2 They still fascinate us 2.1 Interest in dinosaurs is great [Because] 2.2 Some scientists confine their study 2.3 They study dinosaurs only 3.1 They look for fossil bones 3.2 They look for dinosaur tracks 3.3 They find these all over the world [which] 4.1 These bones and tracks are difficult to find [Nevertheless,] 4.2 They are difficult to collect These scientists look for dinosaur remains in areas The scientists are called paleontologists One area is where other specimens have been found One area is where people have found deeply buried bones One area contains rocks from the dinosaur era [-ing] 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Fossils are found [When] They are collected with a variety of tools Some tools are dental picks and small brushes Some tools are jackhammers Some tools are heavy construction equipment 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Dinosaur bones are covered They are covered with plaster of paris casts These protect them from breaking [which] These protect them while being moved 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Fossils may be moved One way to move them is by jeep One way is by horse One way is by camel The way depends on the location of the find 9.1 The specimens are cleaned 9.2 The bones are hardened with glue 9.3 This is after they have been moved to a lab 32 10.1 This process is lengthy 10.2 This process is difficult 10.3 This process is costly 10.4 Only the most impressive fossils are displayed.[; consequently] 10.5 Others are stored in museums 10.6 They wait to be studied Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date 33 Expository Writing II: The Hubble Telescope ■ Directions Combine each cluster into one or more sentences Combine two or more clusters if you wish 1.1 Congress authorized construction of the Hubble Space Telescope 1.2 This was in 1977 1.3 The telescope was named for Edward Powell Hubble 1.4 He was one of the leading American astronomers of the twentieth century 7.4 The telescope enables astronomers to view dim objects 7.5 These objects are fifty times dimmer than those now visible through telescopes on earth 8.1 Astronomers hope to learn about changes 8.2 The changes are in our sun 8.3 They hope to learn about other stars 2.1 This telescope was more than forty years in the making 2.2 This was from the idea to launch and planets 8.4 They hope to learn about the Milky Way and other galaxies 3.1 It is an important new tool 3.2 It is to explore the universe 3.3 It is the most powerful telescope in 9.1 Astronomers have already discovered new information the world 9.2 The information is about two large, Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc 4.1 It was carried into space 4.2 It was aboard the space shuttle Discovery 4.3 It was carried on April 25, 1990 4.4 It was launched into orbit 4.5 It circles the earth every ninety-seven minutes 5.1 Scientists discovered that the Hubble telescope had a major defect 5.2 This discovery was made after it was in orbit 5.3 The defect was in the main mirrors 5.4 This defect severely limited the performance of the telescope 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 hot stars These stars are discharging great amounts of matter The information is also about a ring of matter This matter surrounds a star This star has exploded 10.1 The Hubble should continue to collect information 10.2 This is with regular upkeep 10.3 It will collect information for many years 6.1 It is made of numerous modules 6.2 Each module can be replaced by astronauts 6.3 Astronauts make periodic repair visits 7.1 This telescope is ideally situated to explore the universe 7.2 It is above our atmosphere 7.3 Our atmosphere has dust, smog, clouds, bright lights, and pollution Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade 33 Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Persuasive Writing I: Good Nutrition 34 ■ Directions Combine each cluster into one or more sentences Combine two or more clusters if you wish 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Many people don’t feel well This is much of the time They are not really ill [—] They are not well [, but] 2.1 They are not obviously ill [Since] 2.2 They believe they are getting proper nourishment 2.3 They get nourishment from the food they eat 3.1 There is an abundance and variety of food available today [Despite] 3.2 People are not eating well 3.3 Their grandparents ate better Their grandparents served food The food was close to its original form Its form was such as whole grains Today most foods are processed [, while] Most foods are refined These are such as many of the convenience foods 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 “Fast foods” are appealing “Fast foods” are filling They often contain too much salt They often contain too much sugar They often contain too much fat 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Poor eating habits can make us more likely to develop health problems These health problems could be serious [that] Tooth decay is one problem Health problems could be life threatening Heart disease is another problem 7.1 People not eat recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables [who] 7.2 People are being destructive to their bodies 8.1 Good nutrition builds resistance to colds and flu 8.2 Good nutrition also improves the quality and appearance of hair, skin, and nails 9.1 The food we eat affects the brain as well [Because] 9.2 People should know SOMETHING 9.3 Eating a good breakfast will help them better on tests and at work 10.1 Eating well improves health, appearance, and mental processes 10.2 It makes sense to be sure you eat less fat, sugar, and salt 10.3 It makes sense to be sure you are getting enough wholesome food 34 Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Persuasive Writing II: Exercise 35 ■ Directions Combine each cluster into one or more sentences Combine two or more clusters if you wish Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc 1.1 Today there is an awareness of the value of exercise 1.2 This awareness is increased 1.3 This awareness is good for everyone 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Even people with chronic difficulties have been helped One difficulty is heart disease One difficulty is asthma People have been helped by exercise 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Regular exercise brings more oxygen into the lungs Continuous exercise brings more oxygen into the lungs This is of the type that makes people breathe hard This exercise makes the respiratory system stronger 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Exercise strengthens all the muscles This includes the heart [, -ing] The heart pumps more blood Exercise improves circulation 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Better circulation increases the amount of oxygen every cell receives Better circulation increases the food every cell receives This helps carry away the cell wastes more quickly It makes the body more energetic 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Exercise relieves stress Exercise relieves tension Exercise relaxes the muscles [because] This creates a feeling of calmness [, -ing] This creates a sense of well-being 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 People really know SOMETHING People find SOMETHING [who] Exercise is boring Inactivity can be boring [how] 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 People start to exercise regularly [When] People have not had much exercise in the past [who] People are overweight [or] People report SOMETHING They look better They feel better Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade 35 Sentence-Combining Practice Answers Note: In the exercises on pages 1–27, there is sometimes more than one possible answer In the exercises on pages 28–35, the range of possible answers is far broader ■ PAGE Compound Sentences They went to hear the concert, and they took some friends along She could go over to her friend’s house, or she could talk to her on the phone He especially liked peppers on his pizza, but his friends wanted olives We know Kelly arrived early, for we saw her in the cafeteria The math problem was not solved by me, nor was it solved by anyone She could borrow her friend’s blouse, or she could try to mend her own The frozen yogurt was good, and the toppings were delicious, but the cone was soggy Henry shoveled five driveways to earn money, but he still didn’t have enough to buy the disc player The play was interesting, and the actors were his friends, but the play lasted too long 10 The wolves were howling, and the sound traveled through the cold air, but we were safe in our warm cabin ■ PAGE ■ PAGE Compound Elements II They read books or watched TV while on vacation They read books and magazines while on vacation His comb and hairbrush had been in the suitcase but now were missing She was capable and intelligent but impatient The computer game was original and interesting but very tricky 36 Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade ■ PAGE Items in a Series Jane, Wanda, and Chris played tennis Bill cut the grass, cleaned the yard, and put the yard waste in bags They could listen to music, homework, or write some letters while waiting She put the keys, the gloves, and the money in her coat pocket and then forgot to take her coat Thomas has a disc player, two speakers, and a headset He bought, planted, and watered the seeds They planned the trip, got a bus schedule, and took the bus to the museum Matt asked for an apple, and Maura, John, and Ellen requested raisins The weather could be sunny, rainy, or snowy 10 Luis planned the party, called their friends, and ordered food, and Gina cleaned the recreation room, made decorations, and set up the tape player ■ PAGE Modifiers Before a Noun Her new jeans were stiff His sports equipment was in the garage His basketball was in a red box Sam put an elaborate bookmark in his book Rachel received a purple sweater for her twelfth birthday The colorful folders were reusable A playful squirrel climbed the brick wall The young performers needed more practice Aretha created a new chocolate dessert 10 The visiting teacher with the red plastic tape player gave a talk ■ PAGE Set-off Elements Eva was agreeable, almost eager He delights in—is addicted to—playing chess The cooking class was interesting—and probably useful Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc Compound Elements I Miguel ran down the street but stopped at the corner He forgot to take his band uniform and his drums Her blue scarf or her white scarf could be worn with her jacket They are good friends and enjoy the same sports The mouse was alert and quiet but was caught anyhow The water in the pool was blue and inviting but too cool for swimming Lauren had read her book and written her book review by the deadline The basketball hit the rim but failed to go through They had oranges and tangerines but no grapefruit 10 Molly picked up her flute and her music but dropped her lunch The weather was clear and sunny but too hot Olga put lettuce and tomato in the sandwich but not butter Henry could play on the basketball or volleyball team but not on the football team The winning team was happy and pleased but upset with the unruly crowd and lack of order 10 Mark wanted to find starfish or driftwood but usually found broken shells and glass Sentence-Combining Practice They were satisfied (not enthusiastic) with the arrangements for the concert Manuel encouraged—in fact, commanded—us to visit I felt tired—not exhausted, but really tired The fruit juice had a tart taste—almost a sour taste The dog was never hostile: protective, but never hostile The students were surprised (really deeply offended) by the new rules 10 Bess talked in a loud—almost jarring—voice and walked—practically ran—away from the group ■ PAGE Appositives I Jeff asked for two things, a biscuit and lemonade Mother said the play was a farce—a light humorous play She usually visits New York (known as the Big Apple) Entering the room were the two freshmen: Ines Aran and Hidori Kato All of the food was prepared by his father, a creative chef Raquel, a budding artist, did some of the artwork The vase (an antique) was smashed A busy person, Chiyo belongs to several organizations Kay, a finalist in last year’s competition, practices on the ice five hours a day 10 A thoughtful person, Stefan is concerned about poor and homeless people opyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc ■ PAGE Appositives II They were given two options: wash the car or rake the yard It’s possible to win one of three medals—gold, silver, or bronze She wanted to play a reed instrument (the oboe) Mother has two sisters: Catherine and Christine Dad has a weird hat—a purple stocking cap Oscar, a talented athlete, was at the gym by dawn Benita (a good cook) brought dessert for everyone His response—a questionable one—was misleading Michael’s friends, Sam and Matt, are in the band 10 The summer on the ranch—the Lazy A (a dude ranch)—was fun ■ PAGE Possessive Nouns Leroy’s shovel is in the driveway The rabbit’s alfalfa was in the storage box The rabbits’ alfalfa was in the storage box Irene’s program was late in starting 10 Our friends’ house was painted blue Raoul’s solo was followed by thunderous applause Sandy’s basket was her tenth in the game The man’s sheep were sheared The men’s sheep were sheared Shelby’s prize was a well-known book by L.M Montgomery ■ PAGE 10 Adjective Phrases I The skier in the blue suit was exhausted The video game beside the TV is challenging The students in middle school are taking a trip to the aquarium The cabinet under the clock in the dining room was made of wood of a dark color Ted found a sample box of cereal The woman on the horse wore a raincoat with a hood The tent from Dad’s store is for the camp for young children The members at the meeting could see the problem with the rules The clown with a chicken on a leash has a smiling face 10 The police officer on the horse was talking to a man in a car without license plates ■ PAGE 11 Adjective Phrases II The store across from the shoe shop was selling discount compact discs The book on the coffee table is a real thriller The picture in front of the lamp is of my grandparents The jacket along with a matching scarf makes a nice gift for Mother The chair in front of the desk is an antique The woman with the name tag said the museum near our hotel is closed The colorful parrot from South America was rescued The boy on the hill has a good view of the scenery The girl beside the guard took the tour of the palace 10 The park across from my house has a statue in front of the tennis courts ■ PAGE 12 Verbal Phrases as Adjectives She freed the bird caught in the chimney The dog protecting the family was given a treat The woman to check the smoke alarms is in the building The man jogging along the lakefront fed the ducks swimming in the lake The boy rising to meet me was very cordial She wants a knapsack to hold her books Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade 37 Sentence-Combining Practice 10 People speaking too loudly will be asked to leave The pizza made by my sister was eaten by my friends The man to fix the sink just arrived in his van The owner concerned with getting the best person will select a coach to train the players hired by someone else ■ PAGE 13 Adverbs and Adverb Phrases They arrived unexpectedly He heatedly argued with her about the check Painstakingly she hunted everywhere for the rare book Usually Celia buys stamps on the first day of the month in the morning To prepare for the concert, they sang superbly The committee carefully decided what to with the extra food Now she knows the children aren’t outside In Europe, after two long weeks, they found the sculpture they needed Over a period of time, the early settlers moved west to find new lands 10 Early in the morning, just before daybreak, they were informed hurriedly of the bad weather that was coming ■ PAGE 14 ■ PAGE 15 Adjective Clauses with Whom and Whose He is a leader whom the people trust The store wants stockers whose time is flexible The boy whose book I just borrowed is going on vacation This is the clerk whom customers ask for help The boy whose bike had a flat tire was unhappy 38 Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade ■ PAGE 16 Subject-Verb Agreement I Everyone about to pay the fee was asked to step to the rear The girls who are involved in running must have their own track shoes Two of the girls in the family play tennis One of the boys who is at a loss for words has nodded his head The clothes in the basket are clean The group of chess players was mentioned The book explaining driving begins with the rules Six of the geese feeding nearby look huge The two who took the dance class the whole routine 10 One of the boys dressed for the game was without his helmet ■ PAGE 17 Subject-Verb Agreement II The jacket and the coat are warm The city and the village are offering recycling The captain and founder of the squad was Carrie Earrings or a pin is a suitable gift A puppy and a kitten need care The dampness and the wind make the air seem colder The announcer and voice of the hero is Chet A bus or two vans were requested The red shirt or the blue shirt is the one to wear 10 Joblessness and pollution create serious problems for our country ■ PAGE 18 Adverb Clauses I While she was away, she found a treasure Wherever he gave concerts, he was surrounded by fans As soon as the child touched anything, a sticky fingerprint appeared When the bell rings, the room rapidly empties After they came home from the movie, they fixed a snack Until they formed a team, they couldn’t compete in the contest Where the lightning struck the ground, the grass was completely burned Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc Adjective Clauses with That and Who The racket that you complained about is just the men collecting the garbage The children who were interested were watching the demonstration The trip that Matt took was very exciting The suit that the tailor promised to have by Friday is almost finished The stereo that I fixed recently stopped working again They couldn’t find the old shop that their friend had told them about Juana prepared the food that the shelter needed The students who read the directions assembled the model of the castle correctly The red roses that she wants to put in the bouquet will add nearly ten dollars to the cost 10 These are the spices that in most cases are put in last He was not the person whom they saw The girl Betty knew from school was not at work The girl whose sister Betty knew from school was not at work Dorothy Parker was a writer whom I always enjoyed 10 Dorothy Parker was a writer whose stories I always enjoyed Sentence-Combining Practice While she shopped for groceries, the children helped their father Before the teacher explained the answer, the bell rang 10 After we had finished dressing, and as we were waiting, the flowers arrived ■ PAGE 19 Adverb Clauses II Although he was much younger, he wanted to everything his brother did We still need more food, even if Aurora can bake the cookies She promised to help with the children, even though it wasn’t her turn Though the man had been an artist, he doesn’t paint at all anymore Even if it rains hard and the response is not great, we may still need a second tent Whereas the others forgot their badges, he remembered to bring his Dinosaurs, though they are extinct, still fascinate us We can’t meet your salary requirement, although you have the experience we need Though they saw the squirrel attack the bird feeder, and they chased it away, the bird seed was gone the next day 10 Even though he is disabled and uses a wheelchair, he plays on a basketball team opyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc ■ PAGE 20 Adverb Clauses III Because Paula wanted to coach the team, she studied the rules Unless you have some tickets, we may as well not go If she asks you to bring a friend, please take me Since our guests went home, the apartment is quiet Because Madge was bursting with good news, she awakened Luisa Because she wants to exercise, she has joined a gym You can see the bay whenever there is no fog You can’t get a seat unless you make reservations If you can’t carry a tune and you are invited to sing, you shouldn’t accept the invitation 10 Because the settlement was on the south side of a river, and there was a bend in the river, the town was named South Bend ■ PAGE 21 Conjunctive Adverbs He had to watch his baby brother; therefore, he couldn’t go with us He dropped the tray of dishes; however, some of the dishes didn’t break The puppy was shy; consequently, it hid under the bed I’m not fond of cleaning the house; nevertheless, I help to it The cold wind was chilling; likewise, the sleet was chilling The lemonade was very tart; moreover, it wasn’t cold He was a member of the soccer team; in addition, he played in the band The basketball hoop was missing its net; still, it served its purpose People are feeding the wild geese; the geese, therefore, no longer migrate 10 Some people don’t like broccoli; moreover, they refuse even to look at it ■ PAGE 22 But, However, Although, and Despite (1) He was annoyed, but he appeared to be calm (2) Though he was annoyed, he appeared to be calm (3) Though annoyed, he appeared to be calm (4) In spite of his annoyance, he appeared to be calm (1) The cousins were helpful; they didn’t clean their rooms, however (2) Even though the cousins were helpful, they didn’t clean their rooms (3) Though helpful, the cousins didn’t clean their rooms (4) Despite their helpfulness, the cousins didn’t clean their rooms (1) Marta was careful, but she managed to lose her gift (2) Even though she was careful, Marta managed to lose her gift (3) Though careful, Marta managed to lose her gift (4) Despite her care, Marta managed to lose her gift (1) The parrot was noisy, but it was attractive (2) Though the parrot was noisy, it was attractive (3) Though noisy, the parrot was attractive (4) Despite its noisiness, the parrot was attractive (1) He is drowsy; he says he is wide awake, however (2) Although he is drowsy, he says he is wide awake (3) Although drowsy, he says he is wide awake (4) Despite his drowsiness, he says he is wide awake [Note: for 6–10 the third option (the shortened clause) does not work because the subject is not the same in each sentence of the cluster Combining the clusters according to the third option produces misplaced modifiers.] (1) The dog is old and cranky, but the family loves her (2) Even though the dog is old and cranky, the family loves her (4) Despite the dog’s old age and crankiness, the family loves her (1) The cat was hissing; Victor, however, tried to befriend him (2) Though the cat was hissing, Victor tried to befriend him (4) In spite of the cat’s hissing, Victor tried to befriend him (1) Marta was careful, but her gift was lost (2) Though Marta was careful, her gift was lost (4) In spite of her care, Marta’s gift was lost Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade 39 Sentence-Combining Practice (1) The cousins were helpful; their rooms didn’t get cleaned, however (2) Even though the cousins were helpful, their rooms didn’t get cleaned (4) Despite the cousins’s helpfulness, their rooms didn’t get cleaned 10 (1) He was annoyed, but the class thought he was calm (2) Though he was annoyed, the class thought he was calm (4) Despite his being annoyed, the class thought he was calm ■ PAGE 23 ■ PAGE 24 Noun Clauses I They asked where the talk would be held They wondered what would happen Whose turn it is has not been decided Why she hunts for old horseshoes is puzzling We questioned when dinner would be ready He understands how the machine operates She wanted to know who will help her She asked which painting was sold They didn’t remember what Norma had told them 10 He didn’t know how important he was to the company 40 Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Noun Clauses II He expected that his father would fix the recorder Sonia asked if we had a ladder That we would be late because of the flat tire was clear That we need a new car is plain to see Kate said she met you The committee asked whether they were experienced Mother wondered whether he would say what had happened I called the store to see if the coat could be returned That she should know whether she has the job seems obvious 10 Waldo wondered if he should say that he is not going ■ PAGE 26 Quotations (1) “I rode the bus to school,” said Mike (2) Mike said he rode the bus to school (1) “I ride the bus to school,” Mike says (2) Mike says he rides the bus to school (1) “Watch out for the car,” he shouted (2) He shouted that I should watch out for the car (1) The firefighter explained, “Blocked stairs could be a hazard.” (2) The firefighter explained that blocked stairs could be a hazard (1) The principal told us, “You may ride your bikes to school.” (2) The principal told us that we may ride our bikes to school (1) “Did you clean the basement?” asked Father (2) Father asked if I had cleaned the basement (1) “I finished first,” Sid claimed (2) Sid claimed that he finished first (1) “The punch is almost gone,” noted Juanita (2) Juanita noted that the punch was almost gone (1) “I wish I could go to the ball,” exclaimed Cinderella (2) Cinderella exclaimed that she wished she could go to the ball 10 (1) Angela asked, “Do you have the last assignment?” (2) Angela asked whether I had the last assignment ■ PAGE 27 Verbal Phrases as Nouns Rising early is important to farmers He knows that meeting deadlines matters Traveling is interesting as well as educational Sumi attempted to grow rare roses The engineer considered operating the crane For attempting to improve their scores, the coach was rewarded Her sister tried to start working on the party right away Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc Correlative Conjunctions Either you find your homework, or you will have to it over Either she read a book or she watched TV at lunchtime Either the crocodile was asleep or it pretended to be asleep (1) Not only were they given shelter, but they were given food also (2) Neither were they given shelter, nor were they given food (1) Not only were the socks soft, but they were also warm (2) Neither were the socks soft, nor were they warm (1) Not only was the service good, but it was also fast (2) Neither was the service good, nor was it fast (1) Not only are bikes dangerous on the highway, but they also slow traffic (2) Neither are bikes dangerous on the highway, nor they slow traffic (1) Not only is this the best batch of cookies, but it is also the largest (2) Neither is this the best batch of cookies, nor is it the largest (1) Not only can I hear the orchestra, but I can also hear the chorus (2) Neither can I hear the orchestra, nor can I hear the chorus 10 (1) Not only did he paint the house, but he also fixed the shutters (2) Neither did he paint the house, nor did he fix the shutters ■ PAGE 25 Sentence-Combining Practice They wished to find the treasure map He thinks working at a hobby is very relaxing 10 By trying to show us the way, the boy earned our thanks draw hundreds of enthusiastic contestants They truly have a mania for video games ■ PAGE 28 Narrative Writing II: The Great Outdoors Summers spent on the farm meant being outside most of the day For a city child, being outdoors was great because there were large, open spaces to explore, farm animals (including a puppy and kittens) to enjoy, birds to see, birds’ eggs to find (but not touch), a small, shallow creek to wade in, and many new things to surprise us Even the chores to be done were outdoors—weeding the small vegetable garden and the colorful flower garden with its large variety of blossoms, making sure the cows got to the proper field for grazing, and feeding the chickens and the pets The air was pure, and the sun was ablaze in a deep blue almost every day Early in the day before the sun became too hot, wearing jeans, old shirts, straw hats, and hard-soled shoes (to protect our feet from sharp stones), we did our chores Sometimes we went to the creek to watch from the wooden bridge the quicksilver minnows darting around in the water Sometimes we went to find wild flowers or wild fruit There were endless possibilities, and we were eager to experience the great outdoors ■ PAGE 31 Descriptive Writing I: Heat Wave The weather was hot—hot and dry The summer was half over, and this was the first heat wave The blazing sun scorched the grass, turning it brown Leaves on the trees were hanging limply because of waves of the heat and lack of rain Large flies buzzed around in a drowsy way, and many birds, suffering from the extreme heat, flocked to the birdbath The dog, tongue hanging out, tried to find a cool spot in the shade Mother made tart, icy lemonade, which Father (with his necktie loosened) and Norio (thirsty from his walk home from the pool) drank to quench their thirst Later, hoping the slight breeze would make them more comfortable, they had a picnic under the trees in the yard Norio accidentally dropped his strawberry ice cream, which rapidly melted into a sticky puddle that was quickly absorbed by the hot, dry ground The heat wave affected everyone and everything, and there was no relief in sight opyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc ■ PAGE 29 Descriptive Writing II: My Best Friend My best friend—a next-door neighbor—is about my own age: twelve Since she moved into the large brick house next door two years ago, we have been close friends We— Velma and I—don’t look alike, but we think alike Velma is blond, tall, outgoing, and confident I’m brown-haired, short, shy, and self-conscious Nevertheless, we both enjoy walking along the lake, riding on the bikeway, reading mystery stories, and playing the piano In addition, we share many things: brown-bag lunches, mystery stories, exercise videos, compact discs, and our secret diaries She told me, “I’m happy that you are my friend,” and I am also happy that we are friends ■ PAGE 30 Narrative Writing I: Video Game Mania A new player of video games soon becomes interested At first, the new player is easily defeated by the sophisticated games, and these defeats challenge the player After a short time, the player adapts to the game, developing skill and the desire to beat it When the player is familiar with the game, he or she takes chances and strives for a big score Because the games feature quick, colorful action, sound effects, and excitement, the player is no longer aware of anything around him or her The player is totally involved with the game and concentrates on defeating the fantasy villains As soon as the player becomes skilled at eliminating villains, the game becomes less appealing The player then moves on to new, more challenging games Therefore, manufacturers bring out improved, more stimulating video games, which can be found in department stores and game rooms in malls Players are so intrigued by these games that video game contests and tournaments ■ PAGE 32 Expository Writing I: Tracking Dinosaurs Although dinosaurs have been extinct for 65 million years, they still fascinate us Because interest in dinosaurs is great, some scientists confine their study to dinosaurs only They look for fossil bones and dinosaur tracks, which they find all over the world Nevertheless, these bones and tracks are difficult to find and collect These scientists, called paleontologists, look for dinosaur remains in areas where other specimens have been found, in areas where people have found deeply buried bones, and in areas containing rocks from the dinosaur era When fossils are found, they are collected with a variety of tools: dental picks, small brushes, jackhammers, and heavy construction equipment Dinosaur bones are covered with plaster of paris casts, which protect them from breaking while being moved Fossils may be moved by jeep, horse, or camel, depending on the location of the find After the specimens have been moved to a lab, they are cleaned, and the bones are hardened with glue This process is lengthy, difficult, and costly; consequently, only the most impressive fossils are displayed Others are stored in museums, waiting to be studied Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade 41 Sentence-Combining Practice ■ PAGE 33 ■ PAGE 35 Expository Writing II: The Hubble Telescope In 1977 Congress authorized construction of the Hubble Space Telescope, which was named for Edward Powell Hubble, one of the leading American astronomers of the twentieth century From the idea to the launch, this telescope was more than forty years in the making An important new tool to explore the universe, it is the most powerful telescope in the world Carried into space aboard the space shuttle Discovery on April 25, 1990, it was launched into orbit, where it circles the earth every ninetyseven minutes After it was in orbit, scientists discovered that the Hubble telescope had a major defect in the main mirrors, severely limiting the performance of the telescope However, it is made of numerous modules, each of which can be replaced by astronauts making periodic repair visits This telescope is ideally situated to explore the universe, since it is above our atmosphere, which has dust, smog, clouds, bright lights, and pollution The telescope enables astronomers to view objects fifty times dimmer than those now visible through telescopes on earth Astronomers hope to learn about changes in our sun, about other stars and planets, and about the Milky Way and other galaxies Astronomers have already discovered new information about two large, hot stars discharging great amounts of matter and about a ring of matter surrounding a star that has exploded With regular upkeep, the Hubble should continue to collect information for many years Persuasive Writing II: Exercise Today there is an increased awareness of the value of exercise, and this is good for everyone Even people with chronic difficulties, such as heart disease and asthma, have been helped by exercise Regular, continuous exercise of the type that makes people breathe hard brings more oxygen into the lungs and makes the respiratory system stronger Exercise strengthens all the muscles, including the heart, which pumps more blood Therefore, exercise improves circulation Better circulation increases the amount of oxygen and food every cell receives and helps carry away the cell wastes more quickly, making the body more energetic Exercise relieves stress and tension because it relaxes the muscles, creating a feeling of calmness and a sense of wellbeing People who find exercise boring really know how boring inactivity can be When people who have not had much exercise in the past or are overweight start to exercise regularly, they report that they look better and feel better ■ PAGE 34 42 Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Copyright © The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc Persuasive Writing I: Good Nutrition Much of the time many people don’t feel well—not really ill, but not well Since they are not obviously ill, they believe they are getting proper nourishment from the food they eat Despite the abundance and variety of food available today, people are not eating as well as their grandparents ate Their grandparents served food close to its original form (such as whole grains), while today most foods are processed and refined (such as many of the convenience foods) “Fast foods” are appealing and filling but often contain too much salt, sugar, or fat Poor eating habits can make us more likely to develop health problems that could be serious, such as tooth decay, or life threatening, such as heart disease People who not eat recommended amounts of fruits and vegetables are being destructive to their bodies Not only does good nutrition build resistance to colds and flu, but it also improves the quality and appearance of hair, skin, and nails Because the food we eat affects the brain as well, people should know that eating a good breakfast will help them better on tests and at work Since eating well improves health, appearance, and mental processes, it makes sense to be sure you eat less fat, sugar, and salt and get enough wholesome food ... brackets the punctuation mark and the signal word iv Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Sentence-Combining Practice a He walked to the window b He couldn’t hear anything [, but]... cluster a Toni was ill b Her parents were concerned Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade v Sentence-Combining Practice The possibilities are numerous Here, to give you the feel of... own voice You already know more than you think you vi Writer’s Choice: Sentence-Combining Practice, Grade Sentence-Combining Practice Name Class Date Compound Sentences Key