Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 106 · 40 questions

Writing tip (Main idea first): Read the detail sentences and ask: what are they ALL about? The topic sentence names that main idea in one sentence. A sentence about a different topic cannot open the paragraph, however nice it sounds.

1. 1.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   A fair comes to our village every winter. There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) the village fair (b) a busy railway station (c) saving water (d) our pet cat
2. 2.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   We spent a happy day at the beach. The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) flying kites (b) the village fair (c) making a rangoli (d) a day at the beach
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. (a) We must not waste water. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
4. 4.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   The vegetable market near our house opens early. Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) saving water (b) the rainy season (c) flying kites (d) the vegetable market
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
6. 6.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   Ramesh is the postman in our area. He brings letters and parcels every day. He carries a big brown bag of letters. The postman knows every house on our street. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) flying kites (b) the peacock (c) the village fair (d) our postman
7. 7.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. Its seat is soft and comfortable. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
8. 8.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   An old banyan tree stands in our village. Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) making a rangoli (b) a day at the beach (c) a cricket match (d) the old banyan tree
9. 9.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   My grandfather is seventy years old. My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) my new bicycle (b) ants (c) eating healthy food (d) my grandfather
10. 10.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) my grandfather (b) the vegetable market (c) our trip to the zoo (d) eating healthy food
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
13. 13.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
14. 14.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    The monsoon is my favourite season. Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) elephants (b) my best friend (c) a busy railway station (d) the rainy season
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The day began with a march past. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
22. 22.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    The peacock is the national bird of India. It has a long, bright blue neck. Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) the peacock (b) our postman (c) the night sky (d) a cricket match
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
24. 24.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    We must not waste water. Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) the school library (b) saving water (c) the rainy season (d) my grandfather
25. 25.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Elephants are the biggest land animals. They have long trunks and big ears. An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) a visit to an old fort (b) elephants (c) the village fair (d) eating healthy food
26. 26.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    My grandmother has a lovely garden. Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) a visit to an old fort (b) the school library (c) a busy railway station (d) grandma's garden
27. 27.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    In January, the sky fills with kites. Children fly kites from their rooftops. Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) our pet cat (b) the village fair (c) flying kites (d) making a rangoli
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The librarian helps us find good books. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We must not waste water.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
30. 30.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    I got a new bicycle on my birthday. It is red with a shiny silver bell. Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) my new bicycle (b) our trip to the zoo (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the school library
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
32. 32.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    My best friend is Farhan. Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. Farhan and I play football after school. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) saving water (b) our classroom (c) my best friend (d) the rainy season
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The day began with a march past. I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The railway station is always busy.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.

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