Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 170 · 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?
   
   ___ 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 fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
2. 2.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) the village fair (b) a day at the beach (c) eating healthy food (d) the rainy season
3. 3.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
4. 4.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) my new bicycle (b) the rainy season (c) the vegetable market (d) grandma's garden
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
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) the peacock (b) the night sky (c) our pet cat (d) my new bicycle
7. 7.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) eating healthy food (c) my grandfather (d) a visit to an old fort
8. 8.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
9. 9.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
10. 10.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) the school library (b) a busy railway station (c) making a rangoli (d) our school sports day
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
12. 12.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) grandma's garden (b) the peacock (c) the vegetable market (d) flying kites
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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
14. 14.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) a cricket match (b) saving water (c) the vegetable market (d) elephants
15. 15.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
16. 16.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
17. 17.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We must not waste water.
18. 18.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
19. 19.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) grandma's garden (b) our school sports day (c) my new bicycle (d) a cricket match
20. 20.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 busy railway station (b) our trip to the zoo (c) elephants (d) our school sports day
21. 21.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
22. 22.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
23. 23.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) the peacock (b) our trip to the zoo (c) eating healthy food (d) a cricket match
24. 24.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) grandma's garden (b) my new bicycle (c) a busy railway station (d) a day at the beach
25. 25.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) eating healthy food (b) saving water (c) a visit to an old fort (d) ants
26. 26.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
27. 27.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
28. 28.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
29. 29.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
30. 30.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
31. 31.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. A magician does tricks for the children. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
32. 32.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 old banyan tree (b) a cricket match (c) elephants (d) my best friend
33. 33.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) We must not waste water. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The railway station is always busy.
35. 35.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
36. 36.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
37. 37.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) the peacock (b) ants (c) our postman (d) our trip to the zoo
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. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
40. 40.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.

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