Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 39 · 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?
   
   ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
2. 2.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) my best friend (c) the peacock (d) flying kites
3. 3.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 rainy season (b) a busy railway station (c) our pet cat (d) making a rangoli
4. 4.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
5. 5.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
6. 6.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) a day at the beach (b) our pet cat (c) the school library (d) the rainy season
7. 7.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
8. 8.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We must not waste water.
9. 9.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) a day at the beach (b) our pet cat (c) a busy railway station (d) the school library
10. 10.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) the rainy season (b) the peacock (c) saving water (d) my new bicycle
11. 11.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) a cricket match (b) our trip to the zoo (c) making a rangoli (d) grandma's garden
12. 12.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) my grandfather (b) ants (c) the school library (d) the peacock
13. 13.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) a visit to an old fort (b) our school sports day (c) the school library (d) my best friend
14. 14.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) our pet cat (c) a cricket match (d) the vegetable market
15. 15.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
16. 16.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
17. 17.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) the peacock (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our school sports day
18. 18.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 peacock (b) saving water (c) my new bicycle (d) flying kites
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
20. 20.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. A green board hangs at the front. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
21. 21.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
22. 22.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) the night sky (b) the peacock (c) grandma's garden (d) flying kites
23. 23.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
24. 24.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
25. 25.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 rainy season (b) the school library (c) a cricket match (d) our school sports day
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
27. 27.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) our school sports day (b) the old banyan tree (c) the village fair (d) our classroom
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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
29. 29.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The railway station is always busy.
31. 31.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 rainy season (b) our school sports day (c) a day at the beach (d) the peacock
32. 32.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
33. 33.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
34. 34.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
35. 35.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The railway station is always busy.
37. 37.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We must not waste water. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
38. 38.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
39. 39.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
40. 40.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 village fair (b) elephants (c) the school library (d) our classroom

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