Understanding

Paragraphs

What ls a Paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of sentences. Every sentence in a paragraph is about the
same topic. this unit, you'll first learn how to find the topic of a paragraph.
In
Then you'll learn how to find the main idea of a paragraph. The topic and the
main idea are important. They help you to understand the meaning quickly and
help you to remember what you read.
Example:
This is a good paragraph. All of the sentences are about one topic: the violin
family of instruments.
There are several instruments in the violin family. The violin is the most
popular. It is an important instrument in the classical orchestra. It is also
played in iazz and country music groups. The cello and the viola have the same
shape as a violin, but they are bigger. They are used mostly in classical music.
The biggest stringed instrument is the bass. It's so big you have to stand up
when you play it. The bass is played in classical orchestras, and it is also often
played iniazzgroups.
This is not a good paragraph. The sentences are not about one topic.
Violins are made of wood. The best old pianos were made in Germany.
Musicians spend a Iot of time practicing. Sometimes they play for eight hours a
day. Most violinists stand up when they play alone. Taking music lessons can be
expensive. The kind of wood in a violin is important. Many famous musicians
started to study at an early age.

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ffiExencrse lrr]',r:i

Read each Etoup of sentences. Remembe4 ln a good paragiraph, every sentence is about
the same toplc. Whtch ones ate good Wragiaphs? Check (/) Yes or No. lf you check Yes,
wrlte the toplc. WorR with another student.
1. It's easy to make a good cup of tea. The first people to grow coffee beans
lived in the Middle East. Most of the oranges for iuice grow in Florida.
California is another place for growing oranges. That is how people in other
parts of the world learned about rice. Cover the pot and wait a few minutes.
Is this a good paragraph? Yes No
If yes, what is it about? - -
2. A doctor's iob is not easy. Doctors often spend many hours with patients.
There are usually more patients waiting. So doctors don't have much free time
during the day. They often have to work all night in the hospital, too. They
must also read about new ways of taking care of patients, and they must write
reports about people in their care.
Is this a good paragraph? Yes No
If yes, what is it about? - -
3. In the United States, sports stars make a lot of money. It's not unusual for a
basketball player to get $6 million a year. Some baseball players are also paid
millions of dollars. These sports stars also get extra money from sporting
equipment companies. For example, manufacturers pay sports stars to wear the
shoes they make.
Is this a good paragraph? Yes No
If yes, what is it about? - -
4. In some countries, students can go to college for free. It's often difficult to
get a good iob in a small town. Students often leave small towns to study in
the city. The populations of most countries are growing quickly. Many families
have five or six children. In the winter, there is always a lot of snow in Maine.
Is this a good paragraph? Yes No
If yes, what is it about? - -

Understanding Paragraphs
Choosing the Best Topic
A good reader always asks, "What is this paragraph about? What is the topic?"
The best topic is one that is not too specific and not too general. When you
btty a new pair of shoes, you choose a pair that is iust right. Not too small, and not
too large. And when you choose a topic, you must choose one that is not too
specific (too small) and not too general (too large).
Example:

Read this parugraph. Ask yourself, "What is it about?"

Miami is a popular place for tourists, especially in winter. In fact, this part of Florida
always has warm, sunny weather. Miami is on the seaside, and it has beautiful beaches.
These beaches are one important reason why people go to Miami. But the city is also fun
to visit. There are brightly colored homes and hotels along many streets. There are many
interesting museums, and there are dozens of restaurants with great food.
What is the topic? Circte the letter of the topic. Then write'too speclfic" or'too general. aftet
the other two topics.

a. Restaurants in Miami too aoecific

b. Popular places for tourists too qeneral
O Wt y tourists like Miami

The best choice is c, Why tourists like Miami.It tells what the paragraph is about. Every
sentence tells something that tourists like about Miami. Choice a is too specific. There is
only one sentence in the paragraph that is about food. Choice b is too general. The
paragraph is not about every popular place for tourists. It is only about Miami.

-
* Ex e nc I s E 2*"*-****-*'**t=.'1":"
Read each paragraph. Ask'yourself, 'What is it afud?" Circle the letter of the topic. Then
write "too specifrc" or utoo glenetal" aftet the other two toplcs. Work wfth anothet student.

The Florida fverqlades

1. The Everglades is in the center of south Florida. It is a wild area with no
towns or houses. The Everglades is famous for its wildlife and plants. Some of
these plants and animals live only in the Everglades. They live there because of
the warm climate and water. In fact, the Everglades has lots of water. In the
middle of the Everglades is a very wide river, called the "River of Grass.,, It
changes with the seasons. In the rainy season (May through October) it is 50
miles (80 kilometers) wide in some places.
a. The climate of Florida
b. Plants and wildlife
c. The Florida Everglades

Comprehension Skills
***-Exencrse
3
Read each paragraph. Ask yourself, "What ls lt about?" Circle the letter of the topic. Then
write 'too specific" or "too genetal" after the other two topics. Work wlth another
student.

Forests
1,. Some of the largest trees in the world are in California. These are called
redwood frees. Redwood National Park is a large forest of redwood trees. Visitors
in the park can walk and drive through the forest to look at the trees. Some
redwoods are hundreds of years old. They are very tall and are very wide at the
bottom. One tree has a large hole at the bottom of it. The hole is so big you
can drive a car through it.
a. Parks in California
b. Redwood trees in California
c. The age of redwood trees
2. In many hilly areas of Scotland, there once were large forests. These forests
had rich dirt that was good for plants. The trees in the forest kept the dirt in
place. But over many years, people cut down the trees. They needed the wood
for burning and they needed the land for farming. With no trees, a lot of the
good dirt was washed away by the rain. The land became rocky and not good
for farming. Now the Scottish government wants to make the land better
again. It is planting new trees. These new forests look nice and green. They also
will improve the land for the future.
a. Forests in the future
b. Rocky hills in Scotland
c. The forests of Scotland
3. Large forests are important to us in many ways. They give us wood for
building and heating. They are a home for many kinds of plants and animals.
For many city people, forests are a place to go for a vacation. There they can
learn about nature, breathe fresh air, and sleep in a quiet place. There is one
more reason why forests are important for everyone. The leaves on trees help
clean the air. Dirty air is a serious problem in many parts of the world. Without
our forests, this problem might be even worse.
a. The importance of forests
b. Taking vacations in forests
C. Large forests around the world

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Thinking of the Topic
In Exercises 4 through 7, the topic is not given. Read each paragraph and ask
yourself, "What is this about? What is the topic?" Think carefully-the topic
should not be too specific or too general.
Example:
Read the paragraph and then wfite the topic on the line below.

The earth is getting warmer. This is called global warming. Scientists have done
research on the temperature of places around the world. They say that the earth's
temperature is higher now than it was yearc ago. As a result, the climate is changing in
many countries. There are more storms, and the storms are stronger. The summers are
hotter in some places, and the winters are colder.
Topic: Changea in the earthb climate
The topic for this paragraph should include the idea of climate and the idea of change.
There are a number of ways you could say this. Changes in the earth's ciimate is one
possibility. Other answers are possible if they give the same ideas and are not too specific
or too general. For example, Temperatures around the world is too specific and Weather
problems is too general.

:TEXERCTSE 4:
Read each parugraph. Working with another student, decide on the topic. Be sure your
topic is not too general or too specifrc. Write the topic below the paragraph.

Some Facts about Weather

1. When there is a heavy rainstorm, you sometimes see lightning, which is a
bright flash of light in the sky. In the past, people thought lightning came
from an angry god. In the 1700s, Beniamin Franklin found out that lightning
was electricity. Storms with lightning really are electrical storms. Scientists
today still do not know everything about lightning, however. They do not
know exactly what it comes from, and they never know where and how it will
hit the earth.
Topic:

2. All clouds are made of many little drops of water. But not all clouds are
alike. There are three kinds of clouds. Cirrus clouds are one kind. These are
made of ice drops. They look soft and light. Cumulus clouds are another kind of
cloud. They are large and deep and flat on the bottom. We usually see cumulus
clouds on warm summer days. Finally, there are stratus clouds, which cover the
whole sky. These clouds make the sky gray, and the sun does not shine at all.
Topic:

Understanding Paragraphs
I

3. Fog is really a cloud near the ground. Both fog and clouds are made of many
little drops of water. These drops stay in the air because they are so small. You
cannot see each drop, but fog can make it hard to see other things. It can be
dangerous if you are driving, for example. Sometimes where there is a lot of fog
you cannot see the road. Sailors also have trouble when there is fog. Boats may
get lost and hit rocks or beaches in the fog.

Topic:

rExrncrsE S

Read each paragtaph. Working wlth another student, declde on the topic. Be sure your
topic is not too generul or too speclf,c. Write the toplc below the paragraph.

The Use of Water

1. In the United States, drinking water comes from a few different places.
Many cities get their drinking water from special lakes called reservoirs. Other
cities get their water from lakes and rivers. For example, the drinking water for
New Orleans comes from the Mississippi River. In some areas, people get their
water from the mountains. The water from mountain snow is delicious and
clean. In other areas, people dig deep holes in the ground for water. These
holes are called wells. Outside of cities, most people get their water this way.
Topic:

2. Many American scientists are worried about the drinking water in the
United States. They think that soon there may be no more clean drinking
water. Dirt, salt, and chemicals from factories can get into the water, making it
unsafe to drink. This is already true in some places. One example is a small
town in Massachusetts. Many children in this town became sick because of
chemicals in the water. Another place with water problems is California. The
water near old air force airports is not safe to drink. Chemicals from rockets got
into the ground and then into the water.
Topic:

3. It's important to use water carefully. Here are some ways you can use less
water. First, be sure to turn off faucets tightly. They should not drip in the
bathroom or kitchen sink. Second, do not keep the water running for a long
time. Turn it off while you are doing something else. For example, it should be
off while you are shaving or brushing your teeth. It should also be off while
you are washing the dishes. Finally, in the summer you should water your
garden in the evening. That way you will not lose a lot of water. During the
day, the sun dries up the earth too quickly.
Topic:

Comprehension Skills
ryExERctsE 6 ""*'**

Read each paragraph. Working with another student, decide on the topic. Be sure your
topic is not too gleneral or too specific. Write the topic below the paragraph.

Galileo Galilei
1. Galileo Galilei was one of the first modern scientists. He was born in Pisa,
Italy, in 1564. At first he studied philosophy, but later he studied mathematics
and astronomy. He was interested in the way the earth and other planets move
around the sun. He found out several important facts about our world. He also
started a new way of working in science. Before Galileo, scientists did not do
experiments. They iust guessed about how something happened. Galileo was
different. He did not iust make guesses. He did experiments and watched to see
what happened.
Topic:

2. Galileo is famous for his study of gravity (how and why things fall). He was
the first person to do experiments about this problem. Before, people thought
that heavy things always fell faster than light things. He found out that this
was not true. He took a heavy ball and a light ball and he dropped them both
from a high place. They fell at the same speed. This meant that weight was not
important. This is the law of falling bodies. It is an important law for
understanding our world.
Topic:

3. The life of a scientist was not always easy in the 1500s. In fact, Galileo got
into trouble because of his scientific ideas. His ideas were not the same as the
religious ideas at the time. Many religious people did not agree with him.
During his whole life, he had to worry about this. He even went to prison for a
while. But no one could stop him from thinking. He continued to look for
scientific answers to his questions about the world.
Topic:

Understanding Paragraphs
*Exrncrss T
Thls exercise is a bit different. ln each paragraph, one sentence does not belong wlth the
others. Cross out that sentence. Then wrfte the toplc below the paragraph. Work wfth
another student.

Travel by lrain
Example:
There are several reasons why people travel by train. Some people use the train to
gotoworkeveryday.It,sfasterandeasierthandrivingacar.M
@Touristsoftentravelbytrainwhentheygoonvacation.In
European countries, for example, the train is a good way to visit different cities. Some
people take the train just because they love trains. Their hobby is traveling on the
railroads of the world.

Topic: Reasone why people travel by train .

1. The Trans-Siberian Railroad in Russia is the longest continuous rail line on earth.
It's almost 6,000 miles (or about 1.0,000 kilometers) long. Tourists ride this train
' because it is a very special experience. They get on the train in Moscow and get off
seven days later in the Far East. Or if they want, they can stop and visit places on the
way. Other tourists stay in Moscow to visit museums and churches.

Topic:

2. One of the most exciting train rides in Europe is the trip from Geneva,
Switzerland, to Milan, Italy. Geneva is a city near the Alps Mountains. In Geneva, the
United Nations has many offices. The train goes around tall mountains, and then it
goes through a tunnel. When the train comes out of the tunnel, it is in the middle of
the Alps! The view from the window is too beautiful for words.
Topic:

3. Not all train travel is for tourists or railroad fans. In the United States, most train
travel is for commuting to work. Many Americans commute more than an hour each
way to work. Commuting by train can be pleasant. People can read, work, drink coffee,
chat with other passengers, or sleep. It's important to get a good night's sleep. On some
commuter trains, small groups of people get to know each other. Sometimes they play
cards or chat as they commute to work.

Topic:

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Main ldeas of Paragraphs
The main idea of. a paragraph is usually stated in one sentence. It tells the writer's
idea about the topic. The main idea sentence is important. There can be many
paragraphs about the same topic, but they do not all have the same main idea.
Example a:
In this example, the topic is elephants. The three sentences below are three different
main ideas about the topic, elephants. Can you think of another one?
1. Elephants live in Africa and Asia.
2. Elephants are killed for their ivory tusks.
3. Elephants can cause serious problems for farmers.
Wfite another main idea sentence about elephants. (Make sure that you write a complete
sentence, not just a topic.)

Example b:
In this example, the topic is television shows.
Write three different maln ldea sentences about televlslon shows. Then show your sentences to
another student. Are they the same as yours?

1.

2.

3.

Example c:
In this paragraph, the topic is bicycles. What is the author's main idea about bicycles?
In some parts of the world, many people use bicycles for transportation. First of all,
they are much cheaper than cars. They also do not need gas to make them go. And
bicycles are easy and cheap to fix. In cities, bicyclists don't have to wait in traffic. They
can always go around a traffic jam. Finally, bicycles don't need parking spaces. They
can be parked anywhere.

Circle the letter ol the best maln idea. Work with another student.
a. Bicycles ard cheaper than cars.
b. Bicycles are a problem in traffic.
Q Bicycles are good for transportation.

The best choice is c, Bicycles are good for transportation.This is the writer's main idea
about bicycles. All the information in the paragraph is about this idea. Choice a is not
correct because it is too specific. It is only one part of the paragraph. Choice b is not
correct because the paragraph does not say bicycles are a problem in traffic. In fact, it
says that bicycles have no problems with traffic.

Understanding Paragraphs
Choosing the Best Main ldea

m xencsr S
Read each paragraph. Ask yourself, "What ls the topic? What is the writer's main ldea
abut the topic?" Clrcle the letter of the best main idea. Work wlth another student.

Some ldeas about Clothes

1. Clothes can tell you a lot about a person. Some people like very colorful
clothes. They want everyone to look at them. They want to be the center of
things. Other people like to wear nice clothes, but their clothes are plain, not
colorful or fancy. They don't like people to look at them. There are also some
people who wear the same thing all the time. They don't care if anyone looks
at them or not. They don't care what anyone thinks about them.
a. Some people wear colorful clothes.
b. Clothes can tell you a lot about a person.
c. Some clothes are nice, but very plain.
2. It's important to bring the right clothes when you travel. If you're traveling
to a cold country, you should bring warm clothes. Be sure you have a hat and
gloves, too. If you're going to a hot country, you need different clothes. you
don't want heavy or dark clothes. In hot weather, light clothes are best. If
you're going to a city, you may need some nice clothes. you may want to go to
a special restaurant or a concert. It's different if you're traveling by bicycle in
the country. Then you'll want comfortable clothes. One rule is the same for al]
travelers, however. Do not bring too many clothes!
a. The right clothes are important when you travel.
b. Warm clothes are very important.
c. Be sure to bring enough clothes when you travel.
3. Today's clothes are different from the clothes of the 1800s. One difference
is the way they look. For example, in the 1800s all women wore dresses with
long skirts. Today women don't always wear dresses with long skirts.
Sometimes they wear short skirts, and sometimes they wear pants. Another
difference between the 1800s and today is the cloth. In the 1800s, clothes
were made only from natural kinds of cloth, such as cotton, wool, silk, and
linen. Today, there are many kinds of man-made cloth, such as nylon, rayort,
and polyester. A lot of clothes are made from these kinds of cloth.
a. Clothes of the 1800s looked very different from today,s clothes.
b. A lot of clothes are made of man-made cloth today.
c. Clothes today are different from the clothes of the 1g00s.

Comprehension Skills
YTExenctsr 9
Read each paragraph. Ask yourself, "What is the topic? What is the writer,s main idea
about the topic?" Circle the letter of the best main idea. Work with another student.

Chemistry in the Past

1. Chemistry is an old science. People were always interested in chemicals.
People who worked on chemicals before the 1700s are called alchemists. They
did not study chemistry like modern chemists. Their kind of chemistry was
called alchemy. They had some strange ideas. For example, they believld they
could make gold by mixing together the right things. For hundreds of years,
alchemists tried to do this. of course, no one ever made gold this way.
a. Alchemists never made gold.
b. Alchemists lived before the 1700s.
c. Alchemists studied chemicals in strange ways.
2. Robert Boyle (1627-L691) is sometimes called the "father of chemistry.,, He
started out as an alchemist, but he began to think in a different way. For
example, alchemists thought that everything was made of four things-earth,
air, fire, and water. But Boyle found that things are made up of
-urry different
elements.ln fact, he wrote a definition of what an elementis. He said that an
element is something that cannot be broken into smaller parts. Boyle,s work
marked the end of alchemy as a science.
a. Robert Boyle helped build the science of alchemy.
b. Robert Boyle said everything is made of four elements.
c. Robert Boyle helped to start the science of chemistry.
3. Antoine Lavoisier (1743-7794) is important in the history of modern
chemistry. In about 7776, he began to use a new way to study chemicals.
Before Lavoisier, scientists iust looked at something and thought about it.
However, Lavoisier did experiments. He studied the size and weight of many
different things. He found out something important. He found out that
nothing really goes away. It iust changes into something else. For example,
when water boils, it doesn't go away. It becomes steam, a cloud of water. This
was an important idea for the future of chemistry.

a. Antoine Lavoisier used experiments to study chemicals.

b. Antoine Lavoisier studied the size and weight of water.
c. Antoine Lavoisier lived in the 1700s.

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rryExencrsE l O
Read each paruEnph. Ask yourself, "What is the topic? What is the writer's main idea
about the topic?" Circle the letter of the best main idea. Work with another student.

lmmiqrants
L. In some countries, jobs are hard to find. Many people can't find work, and
they are very poor. But in other countries, especially in the United States,
Canada, and Europe, there are more iobs. So the poor people move to these
countries to look for work. They may leave their homes and families only for a
few months or years. That's what some people from Romania and Ukraine do
in Italy and Germany, for example. But many other people never return home.
They decide to stay in their new country, and they become immigrants. That's
what happens in the United States for many workers from Mexico and Central
America.
a. Jobs are hard to find.
b. Many people look for work in foreign countries.
c. Some foreign workers never return home.
2. When workers move to a new country, they often have problems. The first
problem, of course, is language. Sometimes the immigrants can find iobs with
other people from their home country. Then learning the language is not so
important. But usually they need to know the language in order to work. The
immigrants may also have problems with the people they meet. They may
have trouble with neighbors or people at work because they are different.
People may feel afraid of them because they have a different religion or a
different skin color.
a. Immigrants learn new languages.
b. Immigrants can have problems in the new country.
c. Immigrants may have a different religion or skin color.
3. When immigrants have children, they may be in a difficult situation. The
parents usually continue to speak their native language at home. But when the
children go to school, they soon learn the new language. So they speak one
language at home and another language at school and with their friends.
When they are older, however, they may not want to speak their parents'
language anymore. They may want to be like their friends. Their parents may
not be happy about this. And so there may be family problems and fights.
a. Immigrant children speak two languages.
b. Immigrant families have lots of children.
c. Immigrant parents and children may not agree.

Comprehension Skills
Writing the Main ldea Senrence
The main idea can be written in several ways.
Remember, the main idea must be a
complete sentence. It must tell both the topic
and the author,s idea about the topic.

r rExencrse I
pangnph. Ask yourself, "what is the topic?
ffad-e73h what is the writer,s main idea
about the toplc?" Then wrie a main idea sentence.

what science Teils us about the farth

1. The earth is always changing. Some of the
changes are caused by the
weather. For example, in a deserl, the wind
blows ttie sand around. It makes
the desert look different every year. Rain also
causes changes. It washes away
the dirt and even changes trre ihape of some
rocks. Anothir kind of change is
caused by rivers. when a river go"i do*,
a mountai.r, it..rt, into the
mountain. After a long time, the mountain is rower
and the rand is flatter.
Main idea:

2' Mt' vesuvius in Italy and Mt. st. Helens in the united
states are both
famous mountains, and they are similar. They
are both volcanoes. A volcano is
a mountain that is open-atthe top. Smoke
and hot air come out of the hole.
Sometimes, very hot rock also corires out
of the hole. That can mean trouble
for people nearby. This is what happened with
Mt. Vesuvius and Mt. st.
Helens' Hot rock poured out of Mi. vesuvius
and covered the city of pompeii
i:79.c-.r- Many people the city were kilred. The
Mt. st. Helens vorcano
d-idn't kill many people 1nbecause ih.r" were no cities close to the
However, the hot rock killed a large part of
mountain.
the forest on the mountain, and a
lot of dust fell on cities many miles away.
Main idea:

3' Scientists may know a lot about the outside

of the earth, but they still are not
sure about the inside. For example, they
understand how mountains are made
and what a volcano is, but theydo not know
when a volcano will send hot rock
into the air' scientists also are not sure about how
the earth was made. They have
many different ideas about this. There are still
many difficult questions for
scientists who study the earth.
Main idea:

show your work to another student. Do you agree on the main tdeas?

Understanding paragraphs
ffiExERcsE I
Read each paragraph. Ask yourself,
*What is the topic? What is the writer's main idea
about the toplc?" Then write a main idea sentence.

Classilied Ads in the Newspaper

1. Not all newspaper ads are for selling things. Some ads are about people.
The "Help Wanted" ads give information about fobs. All kinds of iobs are
found in this part of the newspaper. There are ads for secretaries and
electricians, doctors and professors. Another kind of ad about people is the
"personal" ad. These ads are not about work. They are written by people who
are looking for friends. Sometimes these people are even looking for husbands
and wives. Newspaper ads are a good way to get people together.
Main idea:

2. We can learn a lot about a country from the personal ads. These ads tell us
about people and their problems. One example of this is from Spain. One small
town in Spain had 42 men and not many women living in it. The men wanted
to find wives, so they put a personal ad in a city newspaper. Some women
living in the city were not happy living alone and answered the ad by
telephone. They wanted to find out more about the town and the men. The
women did not go to live in the town, however. They did not really want to
work on farms. They did not really want to marry small-town men. So the men
did not find wives, and the women are still alone. Not all men and women in
Spain are like these people, but this ad may tell us something about larger
problems in Spain.
Main idea:

3. Personal ads are usually written for good reasons. Most of the people who
write them really do want a friend. Sometimes though, people write personal
ads for other reasons. They may write the ad as a joke. This is not a nice thing
to do. The people who answer the ads may be unhappy. They may need a
friend very much. Some of the people who write the ads can cause worse
problems. They may want to hurt someone. So, if you answer a personal ad,
you should be careful. The ad may not mean what it says.
Main idea:

Show your work to another student. Do you agree on the main ideas?

Comprehension Skills
2. The animals in the Everglades have to move with the seasons. During the
dry season, from November to April, most of the river is dry. Snakes, fish, frogs,
and other water animals move to the deeper pools of water. Alligators stay near
the pools to eat the fish. Some birds make their nests nearby so they can also
eat the fish in the pools. Then, in May, the spring rains begin. The animals
start moving to other parts of the Everglades. They know there will be more
water and food everywhere.
a. Animals in the Everglades
b. The dry season in the Everglades
c. Why Everglades animals move
3. Water is very important to plants and wildlife in the Everglades. But these
days, there is less water for the Everglades. The population of Florida is
growing fast. Nine hundred people move to the state every day. To get water
for all these people, the towns and cities of south Florida are digging lots of
deep wells. They are also taking water from the River of Grass. Because of this,
the river is becoming smaller, even in the wet season. These changes are not
good for the wildlife of the Everglades. Many plants and animals could die.

a. Florida's growing population

b. Water problems in Florida
c. Animal and plant life

UnderstandingParagrap-h-t*."*."-:,ur$*-.ffi
in*