Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 371 · 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?
   
   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) elephants (c) a day at the beach (d) eating healthy food
2. 2.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) We must not waste water. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
4. 4.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 day at the beach (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the village fair (d) our postman
5. 5.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) making a rangoli (b) my best friend (c) the old banyan tree (d) eating healthy food
6. 6.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
7. 7.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The railway station is always busy.
9. 9.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
10. 10.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
11. 11.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
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) grandma's garden (b) making a rangoli (c) eating healthy food (d) our trip to the zoo
13. 13.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) ants (b) the night sky (c) my best friend (d) saving water
14. 14.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
15. 15.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) elephants (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our pet cat (d) a busy railway station
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
17. 17.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
18. 18.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
19. 19.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 school sports day (b) our postman (c) my new bicycle (d) saving water
20. 20.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) our classroom (c) our school sports day (d) my grandfather
21. 21.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
22. 22.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) ants (b) the night sky (c) a visit to an old fort (d) grandma's garden
23. 23.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 library is my favourite place. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
24. 24.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
25. 25.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) our classroom (b) a cricket match (c) a busy railway station (d) flying kites
26. 26.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) my grandfather (b) our pet cat (c) my best friend (d) the rainy season
27. 27.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 cricket match (b) the night sky (c) the peacock (d) my new bicycle
28. 28.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
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) our classroom (b) ants (c) making a rangoli (d) a visit to an old fort
30. 30.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
31. 31.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
32. 32.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) ants (b) my grandfather (c) our classroom (d) the peacock
33. 33.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. The postman knows every house on our street. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
34. 34.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
35. 35.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 night sky is full of wonders. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
36. 36.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) the vegetable market (b) our school sports day (c) ants (d) our pet cat
37. 37.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
38. 38.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) the peacock (c) a cricket match (d) the vegetable market
39. 39.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) our trip to the zoo (c) flying kites (d) the rainy season
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) We must not waste water.

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