Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 245 · 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?
   
   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) our pet cat (c) the village fair (d) saving water
2. 2.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 postman (b) elephants (c) the vegetable market (d) saving water
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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The railway station is always busy.
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
5. 5.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) grandma's garden (b) saving water (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
6. 6.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
7. 7.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) my best friend (b) our pet cat (c) the vegetable market (d) our trip to the zoo
8. 8.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
9. 9.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) elephants (b) ants (c) the village fair (d) our trip to the zoo
10. 10.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) a day at the beach (b) the school library (c) the old banyan tree (d) my grandfather
11. 11.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) a day at the beach (b) the peacock (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a busy railway station
12. 12.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 vegetable market (b) a day at the beach (c) our classroom (d) the village fair
13. 13.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) a cricket match (b) grandma's garden (c) the night sky (d) our school sports day
14. 14.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) a visit to an old fort (b) a day at the beach (c) the night sky (d) the rainy season
15. 15.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
16. 16.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
17. 17.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
18. 18.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
19. 19.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) saving water (b) a cricket match (c) grandma's garden (d) making a rangoli
20. 20.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
22. 22.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) my new bicycle (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the night sky (d) our school sports day
23. 23.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
25. 25.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
26. 26.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
27. 27.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) We must not waste water. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
28. 28.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) the peacock (c) making a rangoli (d) our classroom
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. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
30. 30.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) elephants (c) a cricket match (d) my new bicycle
31. 31.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) our school sports day (c) our pet cat (d) a day at the beach
32. 32.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
33. 33.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. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
34. 34.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
35. 35.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
36. 36.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) flying kites (b) our postman (c) the school library (d) elephants
37. 37.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
38. 38.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. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
39. 39.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 village fair (b) flying kites (c) my best friend (d) the peacock
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) the old banyan tree (b) the night sky (c) saving water (d) making a rangoli

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