Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 275 · 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?
   
   ___ Its branches spread very wide. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
2. 2.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
3. 3.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
4. 4.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) ants (b) flying kites (c) the peacock (d) our school sports day
5. 5.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We must not waste water. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
6. 6.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
7. 7.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
8. 8.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
11. 11.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) We must not waste water.
12. 12.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) We must not waste water. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
13. 13.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 school library (b) my best friend (c) the rainy season (d) a busy railway station
14. 14.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) my new bicycle (b) our pet cat (c) our trip to the zoo (d) making a rangoli
15. 15.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 visit to an old fort (b) ants (c) saving water (d) making a rangoli
16. 16.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) saving water (b) the old banyan tree (c) the vegetable market (d) flying kites
17. 17.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 vegetable market (b) the village fair (c) my best friend (d) our school sports day
18. 18.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
19. 19.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
20. 20.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The railway station is always busy.
21. 21.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
22. 22.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) our pet cat (b) the rainy season (c) a busy railway station (d) the school library
23. 23.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) elephants (b) the night sky (c) the peacock (d) flying kites
24. 24.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
25. 25.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
26. 26.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 railway station is always busy. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
27. 27.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
28. 28.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
29. 29.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 cricket match (b) a day at the beach (c) the old banyan tree (d) making a rangoli
30. 30.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) making a rangoli (b) my new bicycle (c) our postman (d) our trip to the zoo
31. 31.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) a cricket match (c) the village fair (d) the rainy season
32. 32.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) making a rangoli (c) ants (d) the peacock
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
34. 34.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) the peacock (b) the old banyan tree (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a cricket match
35. 35.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 vegetable market (c) our trip to the zoo (d) my best friend
36. 36.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
37. 37.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
38. 38.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We must not waste water.
39. 39.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
40. 40.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.

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