Which sentence best functions as a topic sentence for a paragraph about recycling benefits?

• A. Recycling reduces waste and conserves resources by diverting materials from landfills.
• B. Recycling is important.
• C. The environment is impacted by human activity.
• D. This paragraph discusses various kinds of waste.

Answer: (A)

A strong topic sentence immediately states the main claim and sets the frame for the paragraph. The sentence about recycling doing two concrete things—reducing waste and conserving resources—while pointing to the mechanism (diverting materials from landfills) does exactly that. It gives the reader a clear expectation of what the paragraph will argue and how it will be supported, rather than just making a vague or broad statement. The other options fail to establish a specific, debatable claim—one is too vague, one is off-topic in scope, and one is merely meta about what the paragraph will discuss rather than presenting a claim to be supported.