Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 196 · 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?
   
   ___ 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) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
2. 2.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) elephants (b) my grandfather (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our school sports day
3. 3.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) a busy railway station (b) our pet cat (c) the school library (d) the peacock
4. 4.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
5. 5.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) a cricket match (b) the old banyan tree (c) the village fair (d) the school library
6. 6.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) my new bicycle (b) the old banyan tree (c) the night sky (d) the rainy season
8. 8.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
9. 9.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) ants (b) saving water (c) making a rangoli (d) a busy railway station
10. 10.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We must not waste water. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
11. 11.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
12. 12.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The monsoon is my favourite 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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
14. 14.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
15. 15.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) our classroom (b) a busy railway station (c) a cricket match (d) our postman
16. 16.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
17. 17.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
19. 19.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) my new bicycle (b) our trip to the zoo (c) grandma's garden (d) my grandfather
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The railway station is always busy.
21. 21.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
22. 22.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) our classroom (c) a visit to an old fort (d) grandma's garden
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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
24. 24.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) The railway station is always busy. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
25. 25.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
26. 26.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
27. 27.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The railway station is always busy.
28. 28.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. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The railway station is always busy.
30. 30.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
31. 31.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
32. 32.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
33. 33.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
34. 34.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) eating healthy food (d) our school sports day
35. 35.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
36. 36.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 village fair (b) my grandfather (c) ants (d) a visit to an old fort
37. 37.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) a visit to an old fort (b) my best friend (c) our school sports day (d) our postman
38. 38.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.

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