Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 390 · 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?
   
   ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We must not waste water. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
2. 2.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 day at the beach (b) our pet cat (c) my grandfather (d) making a rangoli
3. 3.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We must not waste water.
4. 4.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) a visit to an old fort (b) elephants (c) our school sports day (d) a busy railway station
5. 5.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
6. 6.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 trip to the zoo (b) grandma's garden (c) the village fair (d) my new bicycle
7. 7.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 old banyan tree (c) a cricket match (d) my grandfather
8. 8.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The railway station is always busy.
9. 9.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) our school sports day (b) my best friend (c) our pet cat (d) a day at the beach
10. 10.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The day began with a march past. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
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) the village fair (b) my best friend (c) the old banyan tree (d) our classroom
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
15. 15.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
16. 16.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. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
17. 17.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
18. 18.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) eating healthy food (b) the night sky (c) our postman (d) our trip to the zoo
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
20. 20.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
21. 21.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
22. 22.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) the old banyan tree (b) the village fair (c) a cricket match (d) our postman
23. 23.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
24. 24.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) We must not waste water. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
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. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
27. 27.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) my grandfather (b) eating healthy food (c) our classroom (d) my new bicycle
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
29. 29.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) elephants (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a busy railway station
30. 30.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 trip to the zoo (b) the rainy season (c) a day at the beach (d) our school sports day
31. 31.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
32. 32.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) elephants (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our pet cat
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
34. 34.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) the vegetable market (b) a visit to an old fort (c) our pet cat (d) the rainy season
35. 35.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
36. 36.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 walk one behind the other in a line. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
37. 37.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) my grandfather (b) grandma's garden (c) ants (d) our postman
38. 38.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) We must not waste water. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
39. 39.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
40. 40.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The railway station is always busy.

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