Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 416 · 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?
   
   ___ 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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
2. 2.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
3. 3.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) my new bicycle (b) our pet cat (c) the night sky (d) the rainy season
4. 4.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
5. 5.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) elephants (b) the rainy season (c) a busy railway station (d) the peacock
6. 6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
7. 7.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) the night sky (b) a busy railway station (c) saving water (d) the vegetable market
8. 8.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
11. 11.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) a busy railway station (b) my best friend (c) the vegetable market (d) eating healthy food
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
13. 13.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 night sky is full of wonders. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
14. 14.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) ants (b) the rainy season (c) the vegetable market (d) our postman
15. 15.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Ramesh is the postman in our area. He brings letters and parcels every day. 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) a visit to an old fort (b) making a rangoli (c) our postman (d) a busy railway station
16. 16.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. We place small lamps around the design. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
17. 17.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 night sky (b) the school library (c) the rainy season (d) making a rangoli
18. 18.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
19. 19.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
20. 20.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) the peacock (c) the school library (d) our classroom
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
23. 23.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) saving water (b) the village fair (c) the rainy season (d) our postman
24. 24.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
25. 25.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
27. 27.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
28. 28.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. Farhan and I play football after school. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
30. 30.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (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?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
32. 32.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
33. 33.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
34. 34.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) my grandfather (c) eating healthy food (d) my new bicycle
35. 35.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) the old banyan tree (b) my grandfather (c) our classroom (d) our trip to the zoo
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
37. 37.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (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?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
39. 39.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
40. 40.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.

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