Question

When I was 14, my goal in life was to win a tennis trophy. There were no school teams to play on until high school, so I took lessons at a local tennis center. My teacher suggested I compete in the county tournament. I was nervous to do it, but it turned out to be easy. I just put my name in, paid a small fee, and showed up for the scheduled matches. My opponents were total strangers and well-matched to my level, which made it fun. By the end of the summer, I had a second-place trophy, and my tennis game had improved tenfold.
In some ways, county sports are better than varsity athletics because they're easier on your self-esteem. You don't have your school team depending on you, and there's no crowd of classmates watching from the bleachers. It's just you and your opponent. The tournaments are a great way to work on your game and build up your confidence, without ever having to embarrass or prove yourself in front of people you see every day at school. That's what I call pain-free playing!
10
Which sentence could be added at the beginning of the second paragraph, to support the main idea?
A.
Sure, there will be people who say that varsity sports are the only ones that really "count."
B.
Middle schools and high schools usually offer a number of varsity sports for girls and boys.
C.
I know a trophy isn't everything, but it felt good to have a goal and then work to achieve it.
D.
County sports tournaments offer a painless way for kids to stay involved in athletics.

Answer 1

D. It directly states the paragraph’s main idea — that county sports provide a painless, low-pressure way to participate — and serves as a clear topic sentence for the supporting details that follow.