Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 369 · 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?
   
   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) flying kites (b) our classroom (c) the vegetable market (d) a day at the beach
2. 2.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) our postman (b) eating healthy food (c) my best friend (d) the village fair
3. 3.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) our classroom (b) our school sports day (c) a busy railway station (d) a visit to an old fort
4. 4.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
5. 5.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
6. 6.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) elephants (c) our postman (d) my new bicycle
7. 7.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
9. 9.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 village fair (b) the rainy season (c) a day at the beach (d) a visit to an old fort
10. 10.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) the school library (b) our classroom (c) the night sky (d) the peacock
11. 11.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) saving water (b) ants (c) a busy railway station (d) the vegetable market
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. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) We must not waste water.
13. 13.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 pet cat (b) the rainy season (c) eating healthy food (d) flying kites
14. 14.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) eating healthy food (b) a busy railway station (c) grandma's garden (d) our school sports day
15. 15.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 grandfather (b) the vegetable market (c) a visit to an old fort (d) saving water
16. 16.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) a day at the beach (b) our postman (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a visit to an old fort
17. 17.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
18. 18.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) a cricket match (b) the school library (c) ants (d) grandma's garden
19. 19.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
20. 20.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) eating healthy food (b) a visit to an old fort (c) my grandfather (d) making a rangoli
21. 21.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 cricket match (c) the night sky (d) my new bicycle
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
23. 23.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) We must not waste water.
24. 24.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) my best friend (b) the night sky (c) our school sports day (d) our postman
25. 25.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
26. 26.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) a busy railway station (b) the night sky (c) flying kites (d) ants
27. 27.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
28. 28.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 trip to the zoo (b) our school sports day (c) the rainy season (d) a busy railway station
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) We must not waste water. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
30. 30.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) grandma's garden (c) the peacock (d) a day at the beach
31. 31.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
32. 32.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) the old banyan tree (c) the rainy season (d) the night sky
33. 33.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
34. 34.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
35. 35.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
36. 36.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
37. 37.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. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
38. 38.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) We must not waste water.
39. 39.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.

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