Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 378 · 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) our school sports day (b) elephants (c) my grandfather (d) a cricket match
2. 2.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
3. 3.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
4. 4.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
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) a visit to an old fort (b) our pet cat (c) the old banyan tree (d) our postman
6. 6.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) eating healthy food (b) a cricket match (c) the peacock (d) a busy railway station
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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
8. 8.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) the old banyan tree (b) elephants (c) my best friend (d) our postman
9. 9.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 postman (b) elephants (c) our classroom (d) the rainy season
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
11. 11.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
12. 12.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. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
13. 13.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) a day at the beach (b) my best friend (c) flying kites (d) the village fair
14. 14.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
15. 15.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The railway station is always busy.
17. 17.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 vegetable market (b) the peacock (c) my new bicycle (d) ants
18. 18.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) elephants (b) our trip to the zoo (c) my grandfather (d) our school sports day
19. 19.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) the peacock (c) the school library (d) our trip to the zoo
20. 20.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) making a rangoli (b) a day at the beach (c) our school sports day (d) grandma's garden
21. 21.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
23. 23.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) grandma's garden (b) our pet cat (c) elephants (d) our trip to the zoo
24. 24.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
25. 25.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The railway station is always busy.
27. 27.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
28. 28.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) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
30. 30.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. We place small lamps around the design. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
31. 31.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) making a rangoli (c) the rainy season (d) saving water
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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
33. 33.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) making a rangoli (b) the night sky (c) the peacock (d) elephants
34. 34.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. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
36. 36.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) a visit to an old fort (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the vegetable market (d) making a rangoli
37. 37.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
38. 38.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
39. 39.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
40. 40.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.

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