Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 264 · 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?
   
   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) elephants (b) our school sports day (c) the peacock (d) our pet cat
2. 2.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) elephants (b) the old banyan tree (c) our postman (d) flying kites
3. 3.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) the vegetable market (b) our trip to the zoo (c) ants (d) the old banyan tree
4. 4.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
6. 6.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 visit to an old fort (b) my grandfather (c) our postman (d) our classroom
7. 7.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) ants (b) grandma's garden (c) my grandfather (d) eating healthy food
8. 8.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) our school sports day (b) eating healthy food (c) flying kites (d) ants
9. 9.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
10. 10.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
11. 11.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
12. 12.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. A magician does tricks for the children. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
13. 13.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
14. 14.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. We place small lamps around the design. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
15. 15.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
16. 16.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 rainy season (b) a cricket match (c) grandma's garden (d) the school library
17. 17.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) elephants (b) my new bicycle (c) flying kites (d) my best friend
18. 18.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. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
19. 19.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
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) the old banyan tree (b) our postman (c) the peacock (d) our trip to the zoo
21. 21.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
23. 23.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) making a rangoli (b) the old banyan tree (c) our pet cat (d) our classroom
24. 24.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) the village fair (b) a busy railway station (c) the peacock (d) saving water
25. 25.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) the night sky (b) a busy railway station (c) our classroom (d) grandma's garden
26. 26.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    In January, the sky fills with kites. Children fly kites from their rooftops. Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) flying kites (b) our school sports day (c) our postman (d) saving water
27. 27.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) our postman (b) our pet cat (c) my grandfather (d) the village fair
28. 28.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 have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
30. 30.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
31. 31.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) our postman (b) the night sky (c) our trip to the zoo (d) saving water
32. 32.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 village fair (b) our postman (c) flying kites (d) the rainy season
33. 33.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) We must not waste water. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
34. 34.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) my grandfather (b) the village fair (c) our postman (d) grandma's garden
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) elephants (b) saving water (c) our pet cat (d) the school library
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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
37. 37.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
38. 38.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
39. 39.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
40. 40.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.

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