Which phrases in the excerpt best support the author’s purpose of creating a positive image of a town? Select five options. heart of America
live in harmony
with its surroundings
lay in the midst
hillsides of orchards
in autumn
blaze of color
backdrop of pines

The question is incomplete and the full version can be found online.  

heart of America

live in harmony

hillsides of orchards

blaze of color

backdrop of pines

Explanation:

This question refers to a quote from Silent Spring (1962) by Rachel Carson.

Out of the options provided, the ones selected are the best to support the author's purpose of creating a positive image of a town.

The idea of a town that is the heart of America, living in harmony with hillsides of orchards, with a beautiful blaze of color and a backdrop of pines are all elements that portray a positive image of towns.

The idea of the town laying in the midst of numerous farms, and what happens in autumn are deatils that are not as important to that main idea.

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.

that’s a nice boss :