Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 286 · 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?
   
   ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) We must not waste water. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
2. 2.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
3. 3.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. She sleeps in a basket near the window. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ They have long trunks and big ears. An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
5. 5.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) the village fair (b) a day at the beach (c) ants (d) eating healthy food
6. 6.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) flying kites (b) my best friend (c) the night sky (d) our school sports day
7. 7.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) making a rangoli (c) grandma's garden (d) our postman
8. 8.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) a day at the beach (b) a busy railway station (c) the village fair (d) the peacock
9. 9.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
13. 13.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) ants (b) the school library (c) the rainy season (d) elephants
14. 14.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
15. 15.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
16. 16.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
17. 17.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 trip to the zoo (b) my best friend (c) the peacock (d) the vegetable market
18. 18.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 vegetable market (b) making a rangoli (c) saving water (d) a busy railway station
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
20. 20.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. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
21. 21.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
22. 22.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
23. 23.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 grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
25. 25.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Ramesh is the postman in our area. He brings letters and parcels every day. 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 postman (b) the vegetable market (c) a cricket match (d) the village fair
26. 26.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
27. 27.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
28. 28.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
29. 29.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) a busy railway station (b) grandma's garden (c) the vegetable market (d) my new bicycle
30. 30.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
31. 31.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
32. 32.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
33. 33.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
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) a visit to an old fort (b) the rainy season (c) our pet cat (d) making a rangoli
36. 36.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
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) a day at the beach (b) ants (c) a cricket match (d) our pet cat
38. 38.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 school library (b) the village fair (c) a cricket match (d) a busy railway station
39. 39.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) a busy railway station (b) the vegetable market (c) my best friend (d) flying kites
40. 40.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) our trip to the zoo (c) the peacock (d) the vegetable market

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