Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 372 · 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?
   
   ___ 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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
2. 2.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) the old banyan tree (c) the school library (d) our pet cat
3. 3.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
4. 4.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) my new bicycle (b) making a rangoli (c) the night sky (d) the school library
5. 5.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) my best friend (b) our trip to the zoo (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our pet cat
6. 6.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
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) 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) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
8. 8.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 trip to the zoo (b) our postman (c) grandma's garden (d) my new bicycle
9. 9.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
10. 10.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) elephants (b) our classroom (c) ants (d) a busy railway station
11. 11.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 day at the beach (b) our classroom (c) our school sports day (d) our postman
12. 12.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) making a rangoli (b) our pet cat (c) my best friend (d) flying kites
13. 13.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
14. 14.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
15. 15.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) our school sports day (c) my new bicycle (d) my grandfather
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The railway station is always busy.
17. 17.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The railway station is always busy.
18. 18.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
20. 20.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
21. 21.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
22. 22.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) ants (c) my grandfather (d) a busy railway station
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We must not waste water.
24. 24.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
25. 25.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 school library (b) flying kites (c) our school sports day (d) a day at the beach
26. 26.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) a day at the beach (b) our pet cat (c) making a rangoli (d) our postman
27. 27.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) a day at the beach (c) eating healthy food (d) grandma's garden
28. 28.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) saving water (b) the peacock (c) my new bicycle (d) our postman
29. 29.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) saving water (b) the school library (c) ants (d) the peacock
30. 30.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) the school library (d) saving water
31. 31.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
32. 32.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) the night sky (b) my new bicycle (c) grandma's garden (d) eating healthy food
33. 33.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
34. 34.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) our classroom (b) eating healthy food (c) ants (d) the night sky
35. 35.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) We must not waste water.
36. 36.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
37. 37.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) my best friend (b) a busy railway station (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the school library
38. 38.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
40. 40.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The railway station is always busy.

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