Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 25 · 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?
   
   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) a cricket match (b) ants (c) the rainy season (d) our school sports day
2. 2.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
3. 3.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
5. 5.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
6. 6.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The railway station is always busy.
7. 7.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 best friend is Farhan. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
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) my new bicycle (b) the village fair (c) a day at the beach (d) a busy railway station
9. 9.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the night sky (c) the rainy season (d) saving water
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
11. 11.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
13. 13.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 classroom (b) my best friend (c) my grandfather (d) elephants
14. 14.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) a cricket match (b) flying kites (c) a day at the beach (d) my new bicycle
15. 15.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) saving water (b) the old banyan tree (c) grandma's garden (d) our trip to the zoo
16. 16.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 railway station is always busy. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
18. 18.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) my best friend (b) our trip to the zoo (c) grandma's garden (d) the rainy season
19. 19.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
20. 20.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (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.
21. 21.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) the village fair (b) the school library (c) my best friend (d) the vegetable market
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
23. 23.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) elephants (b) saving water (c) the school library (d) our classroom
24. 24.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) ants (b) elephants (c) flying kites (d) making a rangoli
25. 25.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
26. 26.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
27. 27.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) our school sports day (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the vegetable market (d) our pet cat
28. 28.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
29. 29.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
30. 30.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
31. 31.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 peacock (b) our school sports day (c) my grandfather (d) our postman
32. 32.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
33. 33.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. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
34. 34.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
35. 35.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
36. 36.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) We must not waste water.
37. 37.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) ants (b) the village fair (c) the vegetable market (d) a day at the beach
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. We buy strong string for our kites. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
39. 39.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
40. 40.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.

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