Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 402 · 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?
   
   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) a cricket match (b) the vegetable market (c) our pet cat (d) ants
2. 2.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
3. 3.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. We may borrow two books every week. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
4. 4.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
5. 5.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. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
6. 6.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
7. 7.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) a visit to an old fort (b) grandma's garden (c) eating healthy food (d) flying kites
8. 8.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
9. 9.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
10. 10.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
11. 11.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) the night sky (c) ants (d) the school library
12. 12.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
13. 13.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
14. 14.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 school library (b) my new bicycle (c) a cricket match (d) saving water
15. 15.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
16. 16.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
17. 17.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
18. 18.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) my best friend (b) a visit to an old fort (c) saving water (d) our classroom
19. 19.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 visit to an old fort (b) the school library (c) a busy railway station (d) eating healthy food
20. 20.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 visit to an old fort (b) the old banyan tree (c) grandma's garden (d) making a rangoli
21. 21.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
22. 22.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) a visit to an old fort (b) the old banyan tree (c) the rainy season (d) our pet cat
23. 23.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) a visit to an old fort (c) my new bicycle (d) our classroom
24. 24.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
25. 25.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) the school library (c) elephants (d) the night sky
26. 26.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. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
27. 27.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) flying kites (b) the vegetable market (c) a busy railway station (d) my grandfather
28. 28.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. She sleeps in a basket near the window. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
29. 29.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) We must not waste water. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
30. 30.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
31. 31.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
32. 32.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
33. 33.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) my best friend (b) our trip to the zoo (c) my new bicycle (d) my grandfather
34. 34.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) a day at the beach (b) my best friend (c) elephants (d) the rainy season
35. 35.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. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
36. 36.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 old banyan tree (b) the night sky (c) elephants (d) the vegetable market
37. 37.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
38. 38.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) ants (b) saving water (c) eating healthy food (d) my best friend
39. 39.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
40. 40.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.

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