SHSAT ELA · Revising/Editing
Topic Development Practice
Supporting details, relevance, and elaboration. This is one of the skills tested on the SHSAT; the 2026 exam is computer-based with 50 ELA questions in a 90-minute section. Try the samples below, then practice the full topic with instant feedback and explanations.
Free sample questions
Question 1
Read this paragraph.
_______ For one thing, it reduces air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Riding a bike also provides excellent cardiovascular exercise, helping cyclists stay fit. Additionally, cycling saves money on gas, car maintenance, and parking fees.
Which sentence best serves as the topic sentence?
- ABicycles were first invented in the early nineteenth century in Europe.
- BCycling to work or school offers environmental, health, and financial benefits.
- CProfessional cycling races like the Tour de France attract millions of viewers.
- DMany cities have added bike lanes to their streets in recent years.
Show answer and explanation
Answer: B
B introduces the three categories of benefits (environmental, health, financial) that the paragraph then develops in order. A is about bicycle history. C is about infrastructure. D is about professional racing. Only B sets up the three supporting points.
Question 2
Which sentence would be least relevant if the passage focused only on the causes of ocean plastic pollution?
- ASentence 11
- BSentence 2
- CSentence 7
- DSentence 3
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A
Sentence 11 discusses government responses (solutions), which is not about the causes of pollution. Sentences 2 and 3 describe the scope and sources of pollution (causes). Sentence 7, while about effects, is more closely related to the problem than solutions are.
Question 3
Read this paragraph.
(1) Honeybees play a crucial role in agriculture by pollinating crops. (2) Without bees, many fruits and vegetables would not grow. (3) Honey has been used as a sweetener for thousands of years. (4) Scientists are studying ways to protect bee populations from decline.
Which sentence should be removed to strengthen the paragraph's argument about bees' agricultural importance?
- ASentence 1
- BSentence 2
- CSentence 4
- DSentence 3
Show answer and explanation
Answer: D
Sentence 3 discusses honey as a sweetener, which is tangential to the paragraph's focus on bees' role in pollinating crops.
Practice every topic development question we have
Unlimited topic practice with instant feedback, explanations for every choice, timed sections, and full 2026-format mock exams.