Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 426 · 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 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) my grandfather (b) our trip to the zoo (c) saving water (d) flying kites
2. 2.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 postman (b) our school sports day (c) ants (d) flying kites
3. 3.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
4. 4.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
6. 6.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
7. 7.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) our classroom (d) the old banyan tree
8. 8.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 school sports day (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
9. 9.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
10. 10.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 village fair (b) a busy railway station (c) the peacock (d) flying kites
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) eating healthy food (b) the vegetable market (c) our pet cat (d) making a rangoli
12. 12.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) eating healthy food (b) the rainy season (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our trip to the zoo
13. 13.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
14. 14.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. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
15. 15.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
16. 16.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 school library (b) the peacock (c) the vegetable market (d) the old banyan tree
17. 17.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
18. 18.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
19. 19.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
20. 20.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 school sports day (b) the school library (c) my grandfather (d) our postman
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
22. 22.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. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
23. 23.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
24. 24.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
25. 25.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
26. 26.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
27. 27.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) our postman (b) the school library (c) flying kites (d) making a rangoli
28. 28.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) We must not waste water. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
29. 29.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
30. 30.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
31. 31.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) making a rangoli (b) eating healthy food (c) my grandfather (d) our classroom
32. 32.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
33. 33.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
34. 34.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) making a rangoli (b) our trip to the zoo (c) ants (d) the rainy season
35. 35.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
36. 36.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) a day at the beach (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the night sky (d) grandma's garden
37. 37.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) We must not waste water. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
38. 38.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) We must not waste water. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
39. 39.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
40. 40.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) making a rangoli (c) our school sports day (d) my best friend

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