Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 3 · 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?
   
   ___ The day began with a march past. I ran in the hundred-metre race. The winners got shiny medals. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (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.
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. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
3. 3.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 must not waste water. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
4. 4.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
5. 5.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
6. 6.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
7. 7.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
8. 8.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) our postman (b) the vegetable market (c) flying kites (d) ants
9. 9.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 rainy season (b) our pet cat (c) the school library (d) my new bicycle
10. 10.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 vegetable market (b) grandma's garden (c) the village fair (d) our school sports day
11. 11.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The railway station is always busy.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
13. 13.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
14. 14.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) the village fair (b) my grandfather (c) making a rangoli (d) ants
15. 15.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
16. 16.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 day at the beach (b) the peacock (c) the night sky (d) our school sports day
17. 17.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) the vegetable market (b) our classroom (c) ants (d) the rainy season
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. A green board hangs at the front. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (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) eating healthy food (b) our classroom (c) a day at the beach (d) the night sky
20. 20.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 old banyan tree (b) my best friend (c) the rainy season (d) elephants
21. 21.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
22. 22.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) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
23. 23.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 busy railway station (b) our classroom (c) the rainy season (d) the night sky
24. 24.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) a cricket match (b) the old banyan tree (c) the school library (d) ants
25. 25.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. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
26. 26.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
27. 27.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) my best friend (b) the old banyan tree (c) grandma's garden (d) a day at the beach
28. 28.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) ants (b) our trip to the zoo (c) eating healthy food (d) saving water
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) the rainy season (b) a day at the beach (c) a busy railway station (d) our trip to the zoo
30. 30.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
31. 31.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
32. 32.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) We must not waste water.
33. 33.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
34. 34.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) a cricket match (c) our postman (d) the village fair
35. 35.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
36. 36.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 rainy season (b) our classroom (c) my new bicycle (d) a busy railway station
37. 37.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
38. 38.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) grandma's garden (b) the peacock (c) our pet cat (d) our trip to the zoo
39. 39.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
40. 40.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) our school sports day (b) a day at the beach (c) our trip to the zoo (d) my new bicycle

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