Question

Select a suitable topic sentence for the following topic:
Studying a foreign language
(A) However, we often overlook the importance of learning new languages.
(B) There are numerous benefits of studying a foreign language.
(C) Many factors influence students to learn a foreign language.
(D) There are a few significant challenges to learning a foreign language.

Answer 1

Hint: A topic sentence is generally used in expository writing. This is a sort of sentence that provides a summarized version of the theme of the particular paragraph. The topic sentence generally focuses on the first sentence of the paragraph. That sentence is often known as the ‘focus sentence’ as it is the first sentence which organizes the entire paragraph.

Complete step by step answer:
1. The first sentence given in the option cannot be considered a complete sentence, because the focus of that sentence is not specified. The theme of that particular sentence is not centered around foreign languages. Hence, the given topic sentence cannot summarize this particular sentence.
2. The second option talks about the different benefits of learning foreign languages. Here, the focus is on foreign languages and its advantages. Therefore, the given topic sentence can be used to give a basic idea about this sentence.
3. The third option talks about the factors that influence students to learn new foreign languages. Hence, we can see that the focus is again on foreign languages like the previous ones.
4. Similarly, the fourth option, talks about the challenges in learning a foreign language. So, we can see in the last three options, there are significant mentions about the various factors related to foreign languages.
5. Therefore, the last three options are correct.

Therefore, the correct answer to this question is option B,C & D.

Note:
Although all four options talk about foreign languages, in the last three options,the topic ‘foreign language’ is in the focus and there we get it as mentioning about its benefits, factors and challenges respectively. The first sentence is not directly related to foreign language where it has a greater perspective which is not mentioned in the sentence.In this accordance, we can say that options B, C and D can become the ‘topic sentence’ for the topic as suggested in the question above.