Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 231 · 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?
   
   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) grandma's garden (b) our school sports day (c) the vegetable market (d) the old banyan tree
2. 2.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
3. 3.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. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
4. 4.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) the peacock (b) my new bicycle (c) saving water (d) the village fair
5. 5.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 walk one behind the other in a line. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The railway station is always busy.
6. 6.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) our postman (d) elephants
7. 7.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) the school library (b) a cricket match (c) grandma's garden (d) my new bicycle
8. 8.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) my best friend (c) the old banyan tree (d) eating healthy food
9. 9.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
10. 10.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
12. 12.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
13. 13.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
14. 14.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 new bicycle (d) eating healthy food
15. 15.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. We may borrow two books every week. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
16. 16.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) We must not waste water. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
17. 17.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) my grandfather (b) making a rangoli (c) our pet cat (d) saving water
18. 18.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
19. 19.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 best friend (b) making a rangoli (c) our postman (d) our school sports day
20. 20.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) ants (b) the school library (c) our school sports day (d) a visit to an old fort
21. 21.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
23. 23.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
24. 24.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) a busy railway station (b) the rainy season (c) the village fair (d) our trip to the zoo
25. 25.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
26. 26.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) We must not waste water. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
27. 27.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) making a rangoli (b) our postman (c) a day at the beach (d) grandma's garden
28. 28.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) our pet cat (b) a busy railway station (c) making a rangoli (d) ants
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) our school sports day (b) the village fair (c) the rainy season (d) my best friend
30. 30.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
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) the night sky (b) the village fair (c) a busy railway station (d) my best friend
32. 32.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
33. 33.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) saving water (b) the night sky (c) the school library (d) elephants
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The day began with a march past. I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
36. 36.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 rainy season (b) my new bicycle (c) elephants (d) ants
37. 37.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. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
38. 38.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
39. 39.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) We must not waste water. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
40. 40.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) ants (c) our trip to the zoo (d) my best friend

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