Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 266 · 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) ants (c) the peacock (d) the night sky
2. 2.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) ants (c) a cricket match (d) our school sports day
3. 3.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
4. 4.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) the school library (b) the peacock (c) our school sports day (d) our pet cat
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We must not waste water.
6. 6.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
7. 7.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
8. 8.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 busy railway station (b) elephants (c) the old banyan tree (d) ants
9. 9.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
10. 10.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) our pet cat (b) the rainy season (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the old banyan tree
11. 11.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) a cricket match (b) eating healthy food (c) making a rangoli (d) our school sports day
12. 12.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) the night sky (b) the old banyan tree (c) the rainy season (d) a visit to an old fort
13. 13.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. We may borrow two books every week. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
14. 14.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
15. 15.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 school sports day (b) my grandfather (c) our postman (d) the peacock
16. 16.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. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
17. 17.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
18. 18.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
19. 19.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 peacock (b) flying kites (c) the rainy season (d) the night sky
20. 20.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
21. 21.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. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
22. 22.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
23. 23.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 grandfather (b) our postman (c) our classroom (d) a busy railway station
24. 24.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) our postman (b) my grandfather (c) ants (d) our school sports day
25. 25.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
28. 28.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
29. 29.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
30. 30.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) a busy railway station (b) the night sky (c) the peacock (d) elephants
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
32. 32.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
34. 34.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
35. 35.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) my grandfather (b) our pet cat (c) the vegetable market (d) a cricket match
36. 36.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. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
37. 37.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
38. 38.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
39. 39.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
40. 40.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.

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