On the SHSAT Revising/Editing passage-based section, Introducing the topic sentence / thesis means choosing a sentence that states the draft's main focus so later details hang together. The student reads a numbered student essay, infers the central idea from the body, and selects the sentence that best introduces that focus at a marked spot, usually after an opening sentence. Answer choices are complete candidate sentences. Traps include a supporting detail that is too narrow, a vague claim that could fit almost any essay, an off-topic related idea, or a concluding remark that belongs at the end rather than up front.
Planning a Market for One Weekend
(1) A neighborhood association proposed closing Willow Street for one weekend so local growers, bakers, and artists could sell their work. (2) Because the market would be temporary, organizers had to create a safe layout using equipment that could be installed and removed quickly. (3) They measured the street and marked required lanes for emergency vehicles, delivery access, and pedestrians.
(4) A map placed food stalls near hand-washing stations and kept cooking equipment away from fabric displays. (5) They reserved two stalls near the entrance for vendors using mobility devices or heavier equipment. (6) A quiet seating area stood away from generators and food lines, giving visitors space to rest. (7) Waste stations paired recycling, compost, and trash bins with picture labels that matched vendor instructions. (8) Organizers assigned staggered arrival times so vendors would not all unload through the same intersection. (9) Reusable signs showed stall numbers, exits, restrooms, and the nearest transit stops. (10) During a small trial, volunteers walked the proposed aisles while pushing carts and strollers.
(11) They found that two corner stalls narrowed a turn, so the final plan moved those tables farther apart. (12) The association president owns a collection of ceramic birds made by local artists. (13) Weather presented another challenge because tents needed shade in sunshine but could become unstable in strong wind.
(14) Vendors received approved weights for tent legs and instructions to lower canopies if gusts exceeded a set limit. (15) Organizers also created a text-alert system for delays, lost children, first aid, or an early closing. (16) At the end of the market, color-coded teams collected signs, barriers, recycling bins, and borrowed tables.
(17) A final inspection reopened the street only after workers removed tape and confirmed that drains and doorways were clear. (18) Volunteers counted contamination after closing and revised two labels before the next market. (19) The careful temporary plan allowed the market to welcome visitors without treating a one-weekend event as an excuse for improvised safety. (20) The temporary market plan coordinated layout, arrival times, safety rules, communication, and cleanup. (21) The association stored the final map, vendor schedule, incident log, and cleanup notes for future temporary events. (22) These records preserve lessons that might otherwise disappear when barriers and tables leave the street.
Question 1
The writer wants to add a sentence after sentence 2 that introduces the passage's main focus. Which sentence should be added after sentence 2 to best introduce that focus?
- AA weekend closure affects drivers who normally travel along Willow Street.
- BOrganizers used measurements, trials, safety rules, and a cleanup plan to make the temporary market function smoothly.
- CStreet markets give small businesses a place to meet customers in person.
- DVendors often transport their products in cars, vans, or small trucks.
Show answer
Answer: B — Organizers used measurements, trials, safety rules, and a cleanup plan to make the temporary market function smoothly.
The sentence previews the coordinated planning stages developed throughout the passage.
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