An index fossil must be A. smaller than other fossils around it. B. larger than other fossils around it. C. older than 1 billion years. D. unique in its appearance.

Answer is  D, trust  

Explanation: Took the test          

quite an interesting way to teach topic sentences, because the answer to this question is the best definition of a topic sentence that one can present, it is as if answering the questions taught you how to do it, this is some real teaching, it is terribly well-done.

the topic sentence in this paragraph is:

topic sentences writers stay on track and keep a paragraph from becoming an aimless collection of sentences about an idea.

which incidentally tells you what a topic sentence should be.

the answer should be

the simple past tense of strive.

hope this !