Identifying topic sentences

In the following paragraphs, identify the topic sentence and the

key words in the topic sentence that the other sentences support.

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  1.   John Bookmeyer is a versatile, well-rounded boy. In

addition to singing in his church choir, he is a drummer in a

small combo. He maintains a high average in his subjects at

school and still manages to play football and run on the track

team. Although he is very popular with other young people, he

doesn't let his social life interfere with his weekend job at the

drugstore.

Topic sentences: John Bookmeyer is a versatile, well-rounded boy  

Because this is a description of the person.

  2.   The first thing I noticed about the school was the litter

in the schoolyard. Trash and paper were scattered everywhere. The

building, which could have been very attractive despite its age,

was dingy and dirty beyond belief. A window -pane was broken out

of the main door, and the door itself led into a dark, for

bidding hall. As I walked down the hall, I noticed the messy

bulletin board and, in several places, writing on the wall. No

one greeted me when I entered the outer office, although a

receptionist was sitting there noisily chewing a huge wad of gum

and putting on fingernail polish. All in all. I couldn't help

feeling that the school was poorly cared for.

Topic senteces: the school was poorly cared for.
Because this is the principal idea.

  3.   Through the fog the arc lights high above the stadium
looked like small moons from the field below. The lights were
reflected all over the marshy field in pools of water, an
accumulation of twenty four hours of steady drizzle. Despite
lengthy warm-up drills, the players now felt the cold and
dampness beginning to penetrate. They were either huddled
together or dancing up and down to keep warm-- that is, all
except our first-string quarterback and our all-state offensive
end, both of whom were out of the game with injuries. They sat
glumly on the bench wrapped in soggy woolen blankets, Conditions
could hardly have been worse for this crucial game.

Topic sentence: the cold and dampness beginning to penetrate.