Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 408 · 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?
   
   ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
2. 2.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) our pet cat (b) the village fair (c) our classroom (d) the old banyan tree
3. 3.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
4. 4.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) ants (b) the vegetable market (c) the old banyan tree (d) my best friend
5. 5.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 school library (c) grandma's garden (d) my grandfather
6. 6.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
7. 7.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) our school sports day (b) my new bicycle (c) ants (d) the village fair
8. 8.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) the night sky (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the school library (d) elephants
9. 9.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The railway station is always busy.
10. 10.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
11. 11.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) flying kites (c) my grandfather (d) saving water
12. 12.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
13. 13.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (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?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
15. 15.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) our trip to the zoo (b) eating healthy food (c) the old banyan tree (d) a busy railway station
16. 16.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
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. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
18. 18.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) the vegetable market (c) our trip to the zoo (d) eating healthy food
19. 19.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
20. 20.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) eating healthy food (c) my best friend (d) a day at the beach
21. 21.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) eating healthy food (c) saving water (d) a busy railway station
22. 22.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 day at the beach (b) the night sky (c) our school sports day (d) the rainy season
23. 23.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) the school library (b) our postman (c) making a rangoli (d) flying kites
24. 24.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 peacock (b) my best friend (c) a day at the beach (d) our postman
25. 25.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He carries a big brown bag of letters. 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) We must not waste water. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We must not waste water. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
28. 28.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
29. 29.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
30. 30.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) flying kites (b) my best friend (c) the old banyan tree (d) our trip to the zoo
31. 31.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
32. 32.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
33. 33.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 oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
34. 34.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
35. 35.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
36. 36.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 new bicycle (b) a day at the beach (c) eating healthy food (d) the peacock
37. 37.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) our trip to the zoo (b) my grandfather (c) a visit to an old fort (d) my best friend
38. 38.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 peacock (b) our pet cat (c) elephants (d) a visit to an old fort
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) a cricket match (b) the rainy season (c) our school sports day (d) my best friend
40. 40.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) elephants (c) saving water (d) our trip to the zoo

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