Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 218 · 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?
   
   ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
2. 2.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
3. 3.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 rainy season (b) the old banyan tree (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the school library
4. 4.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 school sports day (b) the peacock (c) our postman (d) our trip to the zoo
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
6. 6.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) a visit to an old fort (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our school sports day (d) the school library
7. 7.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 vegetable market (b) my grandfather (c) the village fair (d) grandma's garden
8. 8.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) my grandfather (b) a visit to an old fort (c) a day at the beach (d) saving water
9. 9.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
10. 10.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) We must not waste water.
11. 11.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
12. 12.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
13. 13.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) We must not waste water.
14. 14.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) our pet cat (c) a day at the beach (d) grandma's garden
15. 15.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
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) my grandfather (b) a busy railway station (c) our classroom (d) the old banyan tree
18. 18.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. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
19. 19.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
20. 20.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) our trip to the zoo (b) my grandfather (c) our school sports day (d) the school library
21. 21.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
22. 22.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) saving water (b) the school library (c) the night sky (d) ants
23. 23.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) grandma's garden (b) my best friend (c) a cricket match (d) flying kites
24. 24.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) my new bicycle (b) flying kites (c) ants (d) the village fair
25. 25.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 vegetable market (b) a day at the beach (c) my new bicycle (d) a busy railway station
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
27. 27.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
28. 28.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
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) my best friend (b) the vegetable market (c) ants (d) flying kites
30. 30.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 oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
31. 31.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
32. 32.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
33. 33.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The railway station is always busy.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. He carries a big brown bag of letters. The postman knows every house on our street. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
35. 35.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) elephants (c) our postman (d) a busy railway station
36. 36.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The railway station is always busy.
37. 37.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. He carries a big brown bag of letters. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We must not waste water. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
39. 39.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
40. 40.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.

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