Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 339 · 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 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) flying kites (b) a cricket match (c) eating healthy food (d) the vegetable market
2. 2.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
3. 3.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) the rainy season (c) the school library (d) the vegetable market
4. 4.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) a visit to an old fort (b) the old banyan tree (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
6. 6.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
7. 7.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) our school sports day (b) grandma's garden (c) my new bicycle (d) the rainy season
8. 8.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) our postman (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our pet cat
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
10. 10.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 old banyan tree (b) saving water (c) grandma's garden (d) my grandfather
11. 11.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
12. 12.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) ants (b) a visit to an old fort (c) flying kites (d) our pet cat
13. 13.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) eating healthy food (c) ants (d) a cricket match
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
15. 15.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
16. 16.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
17. 17.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
18. 18.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) making a rangoli (c) grandma's garden (d) the school library
19. 19.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 vegetable market (b) my best friend (c) a busy railway station (d) a day at the beach
20. 20.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) our trip to the zoo (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (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) We must not waste water.
22. 22.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) the peacock (b) a busy railway station (c) the school library (d) the rainy season
23. 23.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
24. 24.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
25. 25.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) flying kites (b) my new bicycle (c) the village fair (d) ants
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
29. 29.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) my new bicycle (b) my best friend (c) a day at the beach (d) our classroom
30. 30.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
31. 31.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
32. 32.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
33. 33.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 trip to the zoo (b) my grandfather (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our postman
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. Farhan and I play football after school. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
35. 35.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) grandma's garden (b) the night sky (c) the rainy season (d) our school sports day
36. 36.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. A magician does tricks for the children. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
37. 37.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We must not waste water.
38. 38.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
39. 39.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) flying kites (b) my new bicycle (c) a busy railway station (d) the vegetable market
40. 40.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.

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