Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 424 · 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?
   
   ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
2. 2.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
3. 3.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) a cricket match (c) our school sports day (d) the old banyan tree
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
5. 5.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
6. 6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
7. 7.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) our postman (b) the old banyan tree (c) flying kites (d) the rainy season
8. 8.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) elephants (b) our classroom (c) the vegetable market (d) the village fair
9. 9.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
10. 10.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
11. 11.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 busy railway station (b) our postman (c) our school sports day (d) the peacock
12. 12.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) our school sports day (b) the old banyan tree (c) our pet cat (d) my new bicycle
13. 13.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
14. 14.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) our pet cat (b) my best friend (c) our school sports day (d) the village fair
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The railway station is always busy.
16. 16.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 must not waste water. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
17. 17.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. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
18. 18.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) grandma's garden (b) our school sports day (c) our pet cat (d) my best friend
19. 19.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 school library (c) our school sports day (d) a cricket match
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) grandma's garden (b) the peacock (c) saving water (d) a visit to an old fort
21. 21.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) a visit to an old fort (b) the school library (c) our pet cat (d) the old banyan tree
22. 22.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) a visit to an old fort (b) the village fair (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the rainy season
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
24. 24.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
25. 25.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) making a rangoli (c) elephants (d) our pet cat
26. 26.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
27. 27.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 day at the beach (b) the vegetable market (c) our pet cat (d) our postman
28. 28.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) my new bicycle (b) the village fair (c) a cricket match (d) the night sky
29. 29.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
32. 32.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) a busy railway station (b) the night sky (c) saving water (d) our classroom
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
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) my new bicycle (b) eating healthy food (c) the vegetable market (d) our pet cat
35. 35.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
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) eating healthy food (b) making a rangoli (c) the village fair (d) the night sky
37. 37.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
38. 38.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
39. 39.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
40. 40.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.

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