Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 239 · 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?
   
   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) saving water (b) our classroom (c) a cricket match (d) the village fair
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) our pet cat (b) our school sports day (c) a visit to an old fort (d) a busy railway station
3. 3.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We must not waste water.
4. 4.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
5. 5.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) my grandfather (b) our postman (c) the vegetable market (d) my best friend
6. 6.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) a cricket match (b) the night sky (c) making a rangoli (d) a busy railway station
7. 7.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
8. 8.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) making a rangoli (b) the school library (c) grandma's garden (d) a busy railway station
9. 9.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
11. 11.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
12. 12.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 night sky (b) grandma's garden (c) my best friend (d) our school sports day
13. 13.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) grandma's garden (b) my grandfather (c) our school sports day (d) flying kites
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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
15. 15.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) flying kites (b) the vegetable market (c) eating healthy food (d) a day at the beach
16. 16.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 new bicycle (b) my best friend (c) grandma's garden (d) a visit to an old fort
17. 17.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
18. 18.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
19. 19.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We must not waste water.
20. 20.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 trip to the zoo (b) the school library (c) our postman (d) the old banyan tree
21. 21.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) We must not waste water.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
23. 23.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
24. 24.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) We must not waste water.
25. 25.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
26. 26.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) our school sports day (b) the school library (c) the night sky (d) elephants
27. 27.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) We must not waste water. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
28. 28.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 postman (b) elephants (c) our school sports day (d) the night sky
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
30. 30.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
31. 31.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
32. 32.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
36. 36.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) making a rangoli (c) grandma's garden (d) my grandfather
37. 37.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
38. 38.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
39. 39.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
40. 40.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) my new bicycle (b) the night sky (c) grandma's garden (d) our classroom

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