Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 153 · 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?
   
   ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
2. 2.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
3. 3.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) my grandfather (b) the peacock (c) a cricket match (d) the old banyan tree
4. 4.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 grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
5. 5.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) our pet cat (b) the rainy season (c) making a rangoli (d) our school sports day
6. 6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
7. 7.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
9. 9.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
10. 10.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
11. 11.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
12. 12.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
13. 13.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
14. 14.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 village fair (b) the vegetable market (c) my best friend (d) saving water
15. 15.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 day at the beach (b) grandma's garden (c) my grandfather (d) eating healthy food
16. 16.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
17. 17.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Our classroom is bright and clean. It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) the rainy season (b) a cricket match (c) our classroom (d) our school sports day
18. 18.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) my new bicycle (b) elephants (c) a busy railway station (d) our school sports day
19. 19.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
20. 20.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. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The railway station is always busy.
21. 21.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
22. 22.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
23. 23.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
24. 24.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
25. 25.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The railway station is always busy.
26. 26.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 postman (b) the school library (c) flying kites (d) our trip to the zoo
27. 27.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
28. 28.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
29. 29.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
30. 30.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) the vegetable market (b) a day at the beach (c) grandma's garden (d) our postman
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
32. 32.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) the old banyan tree (b) a visit to an old fort (c) elephants (d) the vegetable market
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
34. 34.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) making a rangoli (b) my grandfather (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the school library
35. 35.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
36. 36.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) elephants (b) the vegetable market (c) the peacock (d) saving water
37. 37.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. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
39. 39.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) our postman (b) my grandfather (c) a cricket match (d) the school library
40. 40.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.

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