Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 345 · 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?
   
   ___ Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
2. 2.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
3. 3.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
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) elephants (b) the peacock (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the village fair
5. 5.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 vegetable market (b) the rainy season (c) the old banyan tree (d) my best friend
6. 6.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
7. 7.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
8. 8.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) making a rangoli (b) the rainy season (c) our pet cat (d) my new bicycle
9. 9.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) elephants (b) grandma's garden (c) my best friend (d) the vegetable market
10. 10.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) saving water (c) elephants (d) my new bicycle
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. Its seat is soft and comfortable. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
12. 12.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
13. 13.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 busy railway station (b) the old banyan tree (c) the rainy season (d) making a rangoli
14. 14.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. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
15. 15.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
16. 16.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) making a rangoli (b) my grandfather (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the peacock
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
18. 18.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 school library (c) the vegetable market (d) a day at the beach
19. 19.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
20. 20.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) the school library (b) our school sports day (c) a cricket match (d) the night sky
21. 21.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
22. 22.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) our trip to the zoo (b) my best friend (c) the village fair (d) a day at the beach
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
24. 24.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. Our house won the tug of war. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
25. 25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
26. 26.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We must not waste water.
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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
28. 28.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
29. 29.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) The railway station is always busy. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
30. 30.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
32. 32.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
33. 33.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) the old banyan tree (b) grandma's garden (c) a busy railway station (d) our pet cat
34. 34.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. He carries a big brown bag of letters. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We must not waste water. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
37. 37.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. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
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) a cricket match (b) a day at the beach (c) a busy railway station (d) our postman
39. 39.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) my new bicycle (b) our postman (c) our trip to the zoo (d) grandma's garden
40. 40.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) our pet cat (b) saving water (c) elephants (d) a busy railway station

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