Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 309 · 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?
   
   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 classroom (b) my best friend (c) grandma's garden (d) my new bicycle
2. 2.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) a visit to an old fort (c) a busy railway station (d) the peacock
3. 3.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 visit to an old fort (c) my best friend (d) our trip to the zoo
4. 4.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) elephants (c) our trip to the zoo (d) saving water
5. 5.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
6. 6.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) a busy railway station (c) the vegetable market (d) the village fair
7. 7.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
8. 8.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
9. 9.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
10. 10.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 night sky (b) my grandfather (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the vegetable market
11. 11.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
12. 12.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
13. 13.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 classroom (c) the vegetable market (d) flying kites
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
15. 15.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
16. 16.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The railway station is always busy.
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
18. 18.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
19. 19.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) our postman (c) our school sports day (d) our trip to the zoo
20. 20.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
21. 21.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) my best friend (c) the vegetable market (d) a day at the beach
22. 22.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) our classroom (b) the rainy season (c) our pet cat (d) a busy railway station
23. 23.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. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
24. 24.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The railway station is always busy.
25. 25.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. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
26. 26.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
27. 27.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 rainy season (b) a busy railway station (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our postman
28. 28.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 visit to an old fort (b) my new bicycle (c) our school sports day (d) my best friend
29. 29.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
30. 30.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 school library (b) the peacock (c) saving water (d) making a rangoli
31. 31.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 best friend (b) a cricket match (c) the night sky (d) my grandfather
32. 32.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
34. 34.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
35. 35.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
37. 37.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
38. 38.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
39. 39.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) a cricket match (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the old banyan tree (d) our school sports day
40. 40.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) my new bicycle (b) a day at the beach (c) the village fair (d) my best friend

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