Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 38 · 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?
   
   ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
2. 2.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
3. 3.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
4. 4.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The railway station is always busy.
5. 5.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
6. 6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
7. 7.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
8. 8.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 grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) We must not waste water.
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
10. 10.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) my new bicycle (b) eating healthy food (c) our pet cat (d) flying kites
11. 11.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 school sports day (b) our classroom (c) a busy railway station (d) ants
12. 12.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 school sports day (b) our trip to the zoo (c) my new bicycle (d) saving water
13. 13.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
15. 15.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 best friend (b) the rainy season (c) elephants (d) the old banyan tree
16. 16.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) the old banyan tree (b) eating healthy food (c) a cricket match (d) grandma's garden
17. 17.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
18. 18.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
19. 19.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) We must not waste water.
20. 20.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
21. 21.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
22. 22.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. People bargain loudly over prices. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
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. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
25. 25.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
26. 26.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
28. 28.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
29. 29.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) our postman (b) the rainy season (c) the old banyan tree (d) the vegetable market
30. 30.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) elephants (b) our classroom (c) saving water (d) the school library
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
32. 32.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) grandma's garden (b) the night sky (c) the old banyan tree (d) our school sports day
33. 33.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
34. 34.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
35. 35.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) the vegetable market (b) a cricket match (c) my grandfather (d) our trip to the zoo
36. 36.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) my grandfather (b) the old banyan tree (c) our trip to the zoo (d) saving water
37. 37.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 school sports day (b) a day at the beach (c) our trip to the zoo (d) making a rangoli
38. 38.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
39. 39.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
40. 40.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) a busy railway station (b) saving water (c) the peacock (d) ants

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