Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 148 · 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?
   
   ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
2. 2.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) a visit to an old fort (b) elephants (c) the old banyan tree (d) my best friend
3. 3.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
4. 4.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
5. 5.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the night sky (c) grandma's garden (d) the rainy season
6. 6.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   We have a pet cat named Mishti. She has soft white fur and green eyes. Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) our pet cat (b) grandma's garden (c) a visit to an old fort (d) my grandfather
7. 7.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) the night sky (b) my new bicycle (c) the rainy season (d) eating healthy food
8. 8.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
9. 9.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
11. 11.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The railway station is always busy.
12. 12.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) a visit to an old fort (b) elephants (c) a day at the beach (d) the rainy season
13. 13.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
15. 15.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Our school library is my favourite place. It has tall shelves full of storybooks. The librarian helps us find good books. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) our pet cat (b) a visit to an old fort (c) my new bicycle (d) the school library
16. 16.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
17. 17.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) our pet cat (b) our school sports day (c) a visit to an old fort (d) saving water
18. 18.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 school library (b) a cricket match (c) our pet cat (d) the village fair
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. The postman knows every house on our street. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
20. 20.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) our school sports day (b) the peacock (c) eating healthy food (d) our postman
21. 21.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 grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
23. 23.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) our school sports day (b) saving water (c) our classroom (d) making a rangoli
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
25. 25.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
26. 26.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    The railway station is always busy. Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) our school sports day (b) a busy railway station (c) the school library (d) the peacock
27. 27.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) grandma's garden (b) making a rangoli (c) our school sports day (d) our trip to the zoo
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
29. 29.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) saving water (c) my best friend (d) elephants
30. 30.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. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
31. 31.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
32. 32.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) a cricket match (b) our classroom (c) ants (d) my grandfather
33. 33.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) flying kites (c) my new bicycle (d) our trip to the zoo
34. 34.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
36. 36.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 cricket match (b) the peacock (c) grandma's garden (d) flying kites
37. 37.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
38. 38.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. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.

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