Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 417 · 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?
   
   ___ 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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) saving water (b) the peacock (c) our pet cat (d) making a rangoli
3. 3.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) the vegetable market (b) saving water (c) my grandfather (d) a busy railway station
4. 4.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) ants (b) the old banyan tree (c) my best friend (d) the village fair
5. 5.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) our trip to the zoo (b) our classroom (c) a visit to an old fort (d) grandma's garden
6. 6.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) making a rangoli (b) a cricket match (c) the old banyan tree (d) our postman
7. 7.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 classroom (b) grandma's garden (c) our postman (d) a day at the beach
8. 8.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 cricket match (b) eating healthy food (c) grandma's garden (d) the rainy season
9. 9.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) elephants (c) our classroom (d) the peacock
10. 10.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. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
11. 11.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) my best friend (c) the old banyan tree (d) the peacock
12. 12.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) our trip to the zoo (c) a day at the beach (d) my best friend
13. 13.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) our postman (b) my grandfather (c) eating healthy food (d) elephants
14. 14.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) elephants (b) making a rangoli (c) the vegetable market (d) my new bicycle
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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
16. 16.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
17. 17.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) We must not waste water.
18. 18.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
19. 19.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
20. 20.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) We must not waste water. (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.
21. 21.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
22. 22.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
23. 23.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
24. 24.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) my new bicycle (d) my grandfather
25. 25.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
26. 26.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) the school library (b) our classroom (c) the night sky (d) ants
27. 27.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
28. 28.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) making a rangoli (b) our pet cat (c) flying kites (d) my best friend
29. 29.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
30. 30.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
31. 31.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
32. 32.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
33. 33.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
34. 34.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
35. 35.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) We must not waste water. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
36. 36.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
37. 37.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) flying kites (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our school sports day (d) my grandfather
38. 38.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 old banyan tree (b) the school library (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the peacock
39. 39.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
40. 40.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.

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