Question

Sophie has written this topic sentence in her literary analysis: Jack London’s story "To Build a Fire” helps readers understand the harsh natural elements faced by prospectors in the early 1900s.

Which detail from the text best supports Sophie’s topic sentence?

A. The main character traveled with a husky dog as a companion.
B. An old-time prospector offered the man some helpful advice.
C. Snow from a tree branch soaked the man’s newly built fire.
D. The camp of the prospectors was located on Sulphur Creek.

Answer 1

C snow from a tree branch soaked the man's newly built fire

Answer 2

Answer: The detail from the text that best supports Sophie's topic sentence is C. Snow from a tree branch soaked the man’s newly built fire.

Explanation: A topic sentence expresses the main idea or point of a paragraph; therefore, it summarizes the information that is going to be presented in that paragraph. Moreover, the rest of the sentences in that paragraph must provide evidence that support the topic sentence. In that way, as the topic sentence about Jack London's "To Build a Fire" makes reference to the way in which nature affects prospectors, the detail from the text that best supports it is C. "Snow from a tree branch soaked the man’s newly built fire" since it presents a situation in which a natural element (snow) caused a difficulty to a prospector.