Great Barrier Reef Topic Sentences

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📝 Instructions

What is a topic sentence? A topic sentence tells the main idea of a paragraph. It summarises what all the supporting details are about.

Your task: Read each set of supporting details about the Great Barrier Reef. Then write a clear topic sentence that captures the main idea of all the details.

🐠 Write Your Topic Sentences

1. Supporting details:

• The Great Barrier Reef stretches for over 2,300 kilometres along Australia's coast
• It covers an area larger than the United Kingdom
• The reef contains over 2,900 individual coral reefs
• It includes more than 900 islands

Topic sentence:

2. Supporting details:

• Over 1,500 species of fish live in the Great Barrier Reef
• Six species of sea turtles call the reef home
• More than 30 species of whales and dolphins visit the area
• Around 400 types of coral grow in the reef

Topic sentence:

3. Supporting details:

• Rising water temperatures cause coral bleaching
• Pollution from farms and cities damages the reef
• Crown-of-thorns starfish eat the coral
• Coastal development destroys reef habitats

Topic sentence:

4. Supporting details:

• Scientists study the reef to understand climate change
• Marine biologists work to protect endangered species
• Researchers develop new ways to grow healthy coral
• Conservation groups educate people about reef protection

Topic sentence:

5. Supporting details:

• Over two million tourists visit the Great Barrier Reef each year
• Tour boats take visitors snorkelling and diving
• Glass-bottom boats let people see coral without getting wet
• The reef tourism industry employs thousands of Australians

Topic sentence: