READING

Reading 1
The names of companies and products have many different origins. Older
companies often got their names from people. Car companies are a good
example. Many car companies, such as Ford, Toyota, and Tata, all have the
names of the men who started them. Other car companies, such as SAAB,
FIAT, and BMW have names that are initials. For example, BMW are the
initials for Bavarian Motor Works. Today, most new companies do not choose
names like these. They want more interesting names, because they know that
company and product names are very important.
A new company must choose its name carefully. It must also think
carefully when it names its products. A name can influence what people think
about a company or a product. People will remember a good name. They many
choose that company or product because of its name. This means that a
company or a product with a good name may not need many advertisements.
This can save the company a lot of money.

(Adapted from Making Connections 1, by Jessica William, Cambridge University Press)

Vocabulary
Fill in the space with only one word from the passage.

1. This is an international company because it has its _________ made in one

country and sells them in other countries.

2. The first letter of a name, especially when used to represent a name is called
an _____________.

3. Some people changed their names because they did not think they were
____________.

4. I find it difficult to ___________ between staying home or going out.

5. You must be sober and drive __________ because an accident can happen
anytime.

6. The way you manage your time can __________ your study at university.
7. A lot of money has been spent on _________ each year because the company
wants to increase its sales.

8. Her unhappy childhood was the _________ of her problems later in life.

Reading Comprehension
1. The writer wrote this passage in order to
a. tell about the origin of names.
b. inform the readers of companies and their names
c. tell about origins of names of companies and their products.
d. persuade the readers to think carefully before believing in names.

2. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?

a. Companies' names and products are of different origins.
b. Companies in the past were often named after people.
c. Many car companies are named after their founders.
d. Today most companies are not named after people.

3. Why do most companies nowadays not name their products after the people
who started them?
a. They know people are interested in the products.
b. They realized the relation between their companies and products’
names.
c. People will buy their products after they have considered the names.
d. A company's name and that of its product is very important.

4. What is the main idea of the second paragraph?

a. A new company must choose its name carefully.
b. A new company must think carefully when it names it products.
c. A new company must choose its name and products' names carefully.
d. A good name can save a new company a lot of money.

5. In the past most companies were named after _________________________.

6. The companies that use initials as their names are _____________________.

7. People may choose to buy a company’s product because of its____________.

8. A company does not need to advertise its product because _______________.

Reading Skill: Recognizing Supporting Details
As you have already learned, each paragraph has a main idea. The main idea
tells you what the writer wants to say about the topic. A well-written paragraph
also has supporting details. Supporting details are statements with specific
information to support the main idea. Supporting details are usually facts,
examples, or reasons. Finding supporting details will help you understand what
you read.

Supporting details are in supporting sentences which give information that

explains and expands the topic of the paragraph. They answer questions - who?
what? where? when? why? and how? and give details. Good writers think of
these questions when they write supporting sentences for the topic sentence.

For more examples and explanations, study the following paragraph.

At certain points in history, being overweight was a sign of

good health. Now, research shows that too much food is not a good
idea. For example, a study of people over 100 years old shows that
they eat very little. Research also shows that people who eat too
much often have health problems. They do not live as long as other
people. Eating less helps people live long and healthy lives.

Sentence 2 is the main idea of the paragraph: too much food is not a good
idea.
Sentence 3 provides the first supporting detail: people over 100 years eat
very little.
Sentence 4 provides the second supporting detail: people who eat too
much often have health problems.
Sentence 5 provides the third supporting detail: people who eat too much
do not live as long as other people.
Sentence 6 is a conclusion sentence. It restates the main idea.
Kinds of Supporting Sentences
Writers support the topic sentence with appropriate supporting details to
develop their paragraph. Three common ways to develop a paragraph are by
giving details, explanations, and examples.

Details are specific points that tell more about a general statement.

Read this brochure from a health club. Notice the details that help develop the
paragraph.

You'll love working out at the Atlas Health Centre, and you'll what it
does for you! We have state-of-the-art exercise equipment in large, air-
conditioned rooms. You can work out alone or with the help of one of our
professional personal trainers. If you like exercising with friends, join an
aerobics or swimming class-or even try kickboxing! Our staff nutrition experts
are always on hand to talk with you about health issues. When you've finished,
you can relax with a whirlpool bath or a sauna. Come and exercise with us at
Atlas, and you'll soon be feeling strong and looking good.

Underline the topic sentence and list the six details used to support the topic
sentence.

Detail 1: ________________________________________________________
Detail 2: ________________________________________________________
Detail 3: ________________________________________________________
Detail 4: ________________________________________________________
Detail 5: ________________________________________________________
Detail 6: ________________________________________________________

Explanation

The writer explains to the reader what something means or how something
works. In this paragraph, underline the topic sentence. Then answer the
questions.
"A stitch in time saves nine". My mother, who likes sewing, used this
simple saying to teach me the value of working on problems when they are still
small. Originally, the saying referred to sewing - if you have a small hole in a
shirt, you can repair it with one stitch. But if you wait, the hole will get larger,
and it will take you nine stiches. This simple sentence reminds me to take care
of small problems before they become big problems.
 a. What is the writer trying to explain?
b. Is she successful? Do you understand the explanation? yes / no

Example

An example is a specific person, place, thing, or event that supports an idea or

statement. The following paragraph includes an example from the writer's own
experience. Underline the topic sentence.

Even when a first date is a disaster, a couple can still become good
friends. For example, my first date with Jenny was terrible. I thought he was
coming to pick me up at 6.30, but instead he came at 6.00. I didn't have time to
do my hair, and my make-up looked messy. When I got into his car, I scraped
my leg against the car door and tore my tights. Next, he took me to an Italian
restaurant for dinner, and I accidentally dropped some spaghetti on my shirt.
Then we went to a film. Greg asked me which film I wanted to see, and I chose
a romantic comedy. He fell asleep during the film. And I got angry. Now that
Greg and I are good friends, we can look back and laugh at how terrible that
first date was!

a. How many examples are used by the writer in the paragraph?

______________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 2.1
Read the two topic sentences below. Then read the list of supporting sentences.
Match each supporting sentence with the corresponding topic sentence by
writing the correct topic sentence number on the line beside the supporting
sentences. Notice each sentence is labeled in parentheses with the kind of
supporting sentence that it is.

Topic sentences
TS1: low-fat diets are an excellent way to stay healthy and trim.
TS2: High-protein diets are favored by athletes and competitors.
Supporting sentences
a.____ These foods help build muscles and increase energy. (fact)
b.____ They are preferred by the general public because they help with weight
reduction (reason)
c.____ Low-fat diets are recommended by most physicians. (fact)
d.____ Many athletes eat high-protein foods, such as meat, beans, and nuts.
(example)
e.____ Low-fat foods include fruits, vegetables, and pasta. (example)
f.____ Because they are easy to find in stores, low-fat foods are convenient.
(reason)
g.____ Athletes generally eat high-protein diets to give them more energy.
(reason)
h.____ Crispy steamed vegetables and grilled fish and chicken are all tasty parts
of a low-fat heart-friendly diet. (description)

EXERCISE 2.2
Read the following paragraphs. The main ideas are given to you. Find the
supporting details in each paragraph, and write them on the blank lines.

1. A visitor from 1,000 years ago might not recognize many of today’s fruits
and vegetables. First, some of them are different colors. For example, carrots
were once purple instead of orange. Second, some fruits and vegetables taste
very different today. Many apples were very sour and not very good to eat.
Finally, many fruits are much bigger today. Strawberries are a good example. In
the seventeenth century, they were about the size of a grape. Fruits and
vegetables have changed a lot in the last thousand years.
Main idea: Some fruits and vegetables are very different today than it the past.

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

2. Foods with certain colors or shapes have special meanings at New Years’
celebrations. For example, in Peru, people eat gold-colored food on New Year’s
Day. In the Philippines, people eat food that is green. Another New Year’s
custom is to eat different types of beans that are shaped like coins. The idea of
all these different customs is the same: At the beginning of the new year, eat
food that is the color of money or that looks like money, and you will have
enough money all during the year.

Main idea: People eat food of certain shapes or colors at New Year’s
celebrations.

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

3. Colors in nature have universal meaning. For example, trees and plants
are green, so the color green often represents life and nature. Blue, the color of
the sky, oceans, and lakes, makes us think of air, water, and peace. Colors in the
red spectrum - yellow, orange, and red - are warm colors. Those colors may
give us a feeling of warmth and comfort or feelings of anger. Colors in the blue
spectrum - colors such as blue, green, and purple - are cool colors. They often
give a feeling of calmness or sadness. These ideas about color are similar
around the world.

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

4. Turtles are among the most adaptable living reptiles. They can live on
land or in the water and are found everywhere in the world except Antarctica.
In spring and summer, turtles search for food, including insects, fish, berries,
and water plants. In winter, they hibernate in the mud of lakes or creeks or
under piles of leaves and brush. Turtles range in size from several inches to as
large as eight feet, which is the average length of a sea turtle called the
leatherback. Unfortunately, pollution and population growth are now
threatening the existence of these fascinating and harmless creatures.

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

5. One of the largest celebrations of the passage of young girls into

womanhood occurs in Latin American and Hispanic cultures. This event is
called La Quinceanera, or the fifteenth year. It acknowledges that a young
woman is now of marriageable age. The day usually begins with a Mass of
Thanksgiving. The young woman wears a full-length white or pastel-colored
dress and is attended by fourteen friends and relatives who serve as maids of
honor and male escorts. Her parents and godparents surround her at the foot of
the altar. When the Mass ends, other young relatives give small gifts to those
who attended, while the Quinceanera herself places a bouquet of flowers on the
altar of the Virgin. Following the Mass is an elaborate party, with dancing,
cake, and toasts. Finally, to end the evening, the young woman dances a waltz
with her favorite escort.

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

Supporting detail:__________________________________________________

WRITING
A paragraph is not well developed when it does not provide the support—details
and examples—readers need to understand or accept its main idea.

How do you determine how much support you need? The answer to this
question depends on your topic sentence. If your topic sentence is relatively
simple and straightforward—for example, “My school’s registration process is
a nightmare”—two or three well-chosen examples will probably be enough. If,
however, your statement is more complicated— for example, “The plan that
the mayor has presented for building a new stadium is seriously flawed”—
you will have to present more support.

After you have chosen a topic and written a topic sentence, you develop your
main idea by adding more information to explain why you mean. As you have
already learned, three common ways to develop a paragraph are by writing
supporting sentences that: give details, give an explanation, and give an
example.

The functions of supporting sentences:

They are sentences used to support the main idea stated in the topic sentence.
They give more information about the main idea through examples.
They say in details what the topic sentence says in general.
They should be clear evidence that what the topic sentence says is trustworthy.
They should be strong convincing points on which the topic sentence can rely
upon.

EXERCISE 2.3
Read each topic sentence. Then fill in the blanks with additional supporting
sentences. Add as many supporting sentences as you can, but you do not have to
fill in all of the blanks.

l. Owning a small car has several advantages.

a. A small care is easier to park_______________________.
b._______________________________________________
c._______________________________________________
d._______________________________________________

2. To keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright, do the following things.
a. Don't eat sugary foods.
b._______________________________________________
c._______________________________________________
d._______________________________________________

3. Consider these three/four/five factors when planning a family vacation.

a. Consider the interests of everyone.
b._______________________________________________
c._______________________________________________
d._______________________________________________