Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 380 · 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?
   
   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) my grandfather (b) the rainy season (c) the village fair (d) the night sky
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 school sports day (b) a cricket match (c) my best friend (d) my new bicycle
3. 3.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
4. 4.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (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. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
6. 6.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) the school library (b) grandma's garden (c) flying kites (d) making a rangoli
7. 7.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
8. 8.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
9. 9.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
12. 12.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) making a rangoli (b) the village fair (c) grandma's garden (d) a busy railway station
13. 13.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 rainy season (b) our classroom (c) saving water (d) my new bicycle
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
15. 15.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 trip to the zoo (b) saving water (c) eating healthy food (d) the vegetable market
16. 16.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
17. 17.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 vegetable market (b) a busy railway station (c) the rainy season (d) the peacock
18. 18.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) the rainy season (b) my grandfather (c) our school sports day (d) a visit to an old fort
19. 19.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
20. 20.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
21. 21.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) flying kites (b) the school library (c) a busy railway station (d) the old banyan tree
22. 22.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. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
23. 23.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. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
24. 24.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
25. 25.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
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) the school library (b) making a rangoli (c) elephants (d) our pet cat
27. 27.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
28. 28.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 peacock (b) the rainy season (c) the night sky (d) my grandfather
29. 29.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) grandma's garden (b) the peacock (c) a cricket match (d) my new bicycle
30. 30.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
31. 31.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
32. 32.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
33. 33.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
34. 34.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
36. 36.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) our school sports day (b) grandma's garden (c) making a rangoli (d) elephants
37. 37.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
38. 38.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
39. 39.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) ants (b) a day at the beach (c) a cricket match (d) our pet cat
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. The librarian helps us find good books. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.

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