Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 226 · 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?
   
   ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
2. 2.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
3. 3.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
4. 4.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) making a rangoli (b) eating healthy food (c) our school sports day (d) our postman
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) the school library (b) grandma's garden (c) the peacock (d) elephants
6. 6.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
7. 7.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
8. 8.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 night sky (b) a day at the beach (c) our pet cat (d) grandma's garden
9. 9.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) the vegetable market (c) ants (d) my new bicycle
10. 10.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) our postman (c) my new bicycle (d) our pet cat
11. 11.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) the school library (b) saving water (c) my grandfather (d) the night sky
12. 12.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 night sky (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the vegetable market (d) the school library
13. 13.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) grandma's garden (b) the peacock (c) a day at the beach (d) our pet cat
14. 14.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
15. 15.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
16. 16.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
18. 18.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) saving water (b) the night sky (c) a cricket match (d) the village fair
19. 19.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) eating healthy food (b) my grandfather (c) elephants (d) saving water
20. 20.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
22. 22.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
24. 24.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
25. 25.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
26. 26.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) the old banyan tree (c) the vegetable market (d) my grandfather
27. 27.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. She sleeps in a basket near the window. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
28. 28.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
29. 29.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
30. 30.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
31. 31.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) elephants (c) a busy railway station (d) the peacock
32. 32.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. The librarian helps us find good books. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
34. 34.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
35. 35.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) our postman (b) eating healthy food (c) a busy railway station (d) the night sky
36. 36.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The railway station is always busy.
37. 37.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
38. 38.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (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.
40. 40.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) our school sports day (b) the school library (c) the rainy season (d) making a rangoli

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