Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 388 · 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?
   
   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) the rainy season (b) my new bicycle (c) elephants (d) our school sports day
2. 2.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 visit to an old fort (b) the village fair (c) my grandfather (d) our classroom
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
4. 4.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
5. 5.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
6. 6.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 have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
7. 7.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) our postman (c) a busy railway station (d) ants
8. 8.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
9. 9.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) flying kites (b) the peacock (c) my new bicycle (d) making a rangoli
10. 10.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
11. 11.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) our trip to the zoo (b) grandma's garden (c) the peacock (d) the school library
12. 12.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
13. 13.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
15. 15.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
16. 16.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
17. 17.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
18. 18.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) We must not waste water. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
19. 19.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. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The railway station is always busy.
20. 20.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
21. 21.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
22. 22.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) the rainy season (b) flying kites (c) the vegetable market (d) our trip to the zoo
23. 23.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The railway station is always busy.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
25. 25.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
26. 26.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) saving water (c) the old banyan tree (d) the vegetable market
27. 27.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. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We must not waste water. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
28. 28.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) making a rangoli (b) saving water (c) the school library (d) the vegetable market
29. 29.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) the night sky (b) a visit to an old fort (c) ants (d) flying kites
30. 30.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 school sports day (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our postman (d) grandma's garden
31. 31.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
32. 32.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
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. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
34. 34.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
35. 35.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) elephants (b) making a rangoli (c) flying kites (d) the rainy season
36. 36.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 vegetable market (b) saving water (c) eating healthy food (d) the rainy season
37. 37.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
38. 38.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 pet cat (b) the rainy season (c) a cricket match (d) a day at the beach
39. 39.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
40. 40.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.

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