Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 332 · 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?
   
   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) the school library (b) the night sky (c) the village fair (d) a visit to an old fort
2. 2.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) our school sports day (b) the school library (c) a busy railway station (d) elephants
3. 3.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
4. 4.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) grandma's garden (b) ants (c) the peacock (d) our pet cat
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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
6. 6.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) ants (b) grandma's garden (c) the village fair (d) my best friend
7. 7.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
8. 8.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
9. 9.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 school sports day (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our pet cat (d) my new bicycle
10. 10.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (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.
11. 11.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
12. 12.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) a busy railway station (c) ants (d) making a rangoli
13. 13.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 trip to the zoo (b) the peacock (c) ants (d) my grandfather
14. 14.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) 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) We spent a happy day at the beach.
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
16. 16.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) the vegetable market (b) making a rangoli (c) our trip to the zoo (d) flying kites
17. 17.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) We must not waste water. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
18. 18.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
19. 19.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
20. 20.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) a cricket match (b) a busy railway station (c) the rainy season (d) our trip to the zoo
21. 21.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
22. 22.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) making a rangoli (b) our classroom (c) grandma's garden (d) the vegetable market
23. 23.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
25. 25.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
26. 26.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The librarian helps us find good books. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
28. 28.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) my grandfather (c) the rainy season (d) the vegetable market
29. 29.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
30. 30.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 visit to an old fort (b) grandma's garden (c) flying kites (d) our classroom
31. 31.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) We must not waste water. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
32. 32.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
33. 33.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
35. 35.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) flying kites (b) a cricket match (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the old banyan tree
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
37. 37.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
38. 38.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
39. 39.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 school sports day (b) a cricket match (c) making a rangoli (d) the rainy season
40. 40.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. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We must not waste water.

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