Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 131 · 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.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. We place small lamps around the design. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
2. 2.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
4. 4.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) a visit to an old fort (b) saving water (c) a busy railway station (d) flying kites
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. The librarian helps us find good books. We may borrow two books every week. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
6. 6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ They have long trunks and big ears. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
7. 7.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   The night sky is full of wonders. Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) the rainy season (b) the night sky (c) our school sports day (d) a cricket match
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
10. 10.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 peacock (b) saving water (c) making a rangoli (d) my grandfather
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
12. 12.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. First we draw the pattern with white chalk. Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) ants (b) elephants (c) our school sports day (d) making a rangoli
13. 13.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
14. 14.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Our school sports day was full of fun. The day began with a march past. I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) our classroom (b) the rainy season (c) elephants (d) our school sports day
15. 15.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) a day at the beach (b) grandma's garden (c) a cricket match (d) my best friend
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. Farhan and I play football after school. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
18. 18.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. He carries a big brown bag of letters. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The railway station is always busy.
20. 20.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) the vegetable market (b) a day at the beach (c) my grandfather (d) the school library
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We must not waste water.
25. 25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
26. 26.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) the old banyan tree (b) a visit to an old fort (c) making a rangoli (d) the school library
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. Kites of every colour dance in the wind. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We must not waste water.
30. 30.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Ants are tiny but very hard-working. They live together in an anthill. Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) our school sports day (b) ants (c) making a rangoli (d) our trip to the zoo
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The railway station is always busy.
32. 32.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. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
34. 34.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) the peacock (b) a cricket match (c) grandma's garden (d) flying kites
35. 35.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) grandma's garden (b) the peacock (c) my grandfather (d) saving water
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We must not waste water.
38. 38.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) the old banyan tree (b) the rainy season (c) our classroom (d) the peacock
39. 39.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
40. 40.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Our class visited an old fort on a hill. Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) making a rangoli (b) a visit to an old fort (c) my new bicycle (d) the rainy season

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