Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 251 · 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?
   
   ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
2. 2.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) saving water (b) my best friend (c) the peacock (d) our school sports day
3. 3.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 day at the beach (b) the night sky (c) making a rangoli (d) a busy railway station
4. 4.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) a cricket match (b) grandma's garden (c) my best friend (d) our classroom
5. 5.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 peacock (b) the village fair (c) grandma's garden (d) my new bicycle
6. 6.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
7. 7.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ 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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
8. 8.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) eating healthy food (b) a busy railway station (c) a cricket match (d) the old banyan tree
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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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 school library is my favourite place. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
12. 12.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
13. 13.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
14. 14.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
16. 16.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) my new bicycle (b) our classroom (c) our pet cat (d) eating healthy food
17. 17.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) the peacock (b) our postman (c) my grandfather (d) ants
18. 18.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) our pet cat (c) a visit to an old fort (d) my new bicycle
19. 19.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 pet cat (b) the vegetable market (c) our postman (d) saving water
20. 20.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) making a rangoli (b) the vegetable market (c) grandma's garden (d) the peacock
21. 21.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) grandma's garden (b) our school sports day (c) eating healthy food (d) elephants
22. 22.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. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
23. 23.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) We must not waste water. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
24. 24.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
25. 25.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 rainy season (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the peacock (d) our trip to the zoo
26. 26.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
27. 27.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
28. 28.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
30. 30.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
31. 31.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
32. 32.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 rainy season (c) our pet cat (d) a busy railway station
33. 33.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 cricket match (b) the old banyan tree (c) my grandfather (d) our trip to the zoo
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. The postman knows every house on our street. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
35. 35.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) eating healthy food (c) a day at the beach (d) my new bicycle
36. 36.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The railway station is always busy.
37. 37.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
38. 38.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
39. 39.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
40. 40.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.

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