Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 223 · 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?
   
   ___ We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
2. 2.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
3. 3.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) ants (b) my grandfather (c) our classroom (d) a busy railway station
4. 4.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
5. 5.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) our pet cat (c) ants (d) elephants
6. 6.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
7. 7.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
8. 8.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) the night sky (b) grandma's garden (c) elephants (d) a busy railway station
9. 9.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   An old banyan tree stands in our village. Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) the rainy season (b) the old banyan tree (c) the peacock (d) our school sports day
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
11. 11.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We must not waste water.
12. 12.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
13. 13.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) the peacock (c) making a rangoli (d) a cricket match
14. 14.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
15. 15.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) our school sports day (b) the rainy season (c) our postman (d) my new bicycle
16. 16.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) ants (b) our school sports day (c) grandma's garden (d) the peacock
17. 17.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
18. 18.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 school sports day (b) a busy railway station (c) my grandfather (d) the school library
19. 19.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 vegetable market (b) eating healthy food (c) elephants (d) the rainy season
20. 20.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) a day at the beach (b) my best friend (c) the school library (d) the village fair
21. 21.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 pet cat (b) the vegetable market (c) our school sports day (d) the school library
22. 22.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. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
23. 23.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
24. 24.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
25. 25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. Kites of every colour dance in the wind. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
27. 27.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) eating healthy food (b) our school sports day (c) the rainy season (d) making a rangoli
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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
29. 29.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) eating healthy food (b) my grandfather (c) our classroom (d) making a rangoli
30. 30.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 postman (c) my best friend (d) a cricket match
31. 31.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) flying kites (b) the peacock (c) our classroom (d) the night sky
32. 32.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 village fair (b) my best friend (c) my new bicycle (d) grandma's garden
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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
34. 34.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
35. 35.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
37. 37.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (c) We must not waste water. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
38. 38.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) saving water (b) our pet cat (c) the school library (d) flying kites
39. 39.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
40. 40.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The railway station is always busy.

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