Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 215 · 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.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 old banyan tree (b) the school library (c) our school sports day (d) eating healthy food
2. 2.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) the old banyan tree (b) our pet cat (c) grandma's garden (d) a visit to an old fort
3. 3.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) ants (b) a busy railway station (c) a cricket match (d) a day at the beach
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) making a rangoli (b) the peacock (c) grandma's garden (d) flying kites
5. 5.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) the old banyan tree (b) a cricket match (c) the village fair (d) our school sports day
6. 6.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) elephants (c) the old banyan tree (d) our school sports day
7. 7.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
8. 8.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its stone walls were very thick. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
10. 10.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) the night sky (b) making a rangoli (c) my best friend (d) my new bicycle
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
12. 12.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) a busy railway station (b) my grandfather (c) grandma's garden (d) our pet cat
13. 13.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
14. 14.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 night sky (b) the vegetable market (c) my best friend (d) the village fair
15. 15.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
16. 16.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
17. 17.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 store food for the winter. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
18. 18.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) my new bicycle (b) making a rangoli (c) the peacock (d) the school library
19. 19.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
20. 20.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The railway station is always busy.
21. 21.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
22. 22.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
23. 23.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) We must not waste water.
24. 24.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) our pet cat (c) eating healthy food (d) our classroom
25. 25.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) ants (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the school library (d) saving water
26. 26.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
27. 27.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) a visit to an old fort (b) saving water (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a busy railway station
28. 28.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
29. 29.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) our pet cat (b) the old banyan tree (c) my grandfather (d) the vegetable market
30. 30.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) our trip to the zoo (b) making a rangoli (c) the village fair (d) a visit to an old fort
31. 31.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
32. 32.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 library is my favourite place. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We must not waste water.
33. 33.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) grandma's garden (b) my best friend (c) the village fair (d) our classroom
34. 34.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
35. 35.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) the school library (b) my grandfather (c) eating healthy food (d) grandma's garden
36. 36.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) eating healthy food (b) my best friend (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our pet cat
37. 37.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We must not waste water.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
39. 39.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
40. 40.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) flying kites (b) eating healthy food (c) our pet cat (d) the school library

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