Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 431 · 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?
   
   My grandmother has a lovely garden. Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) making a rangoli (b) grandma's garden (c) the rainy season (d) my new bicycle
2. 2.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. 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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
5. 5.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) We must not waste water. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
6. 6.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) the school library (b) our classroom (c) a cricket match (d) my new bicycle
7. 7.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
8. 8.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) a visit to an old fort (b) eating healthy food (c) our postman (d) the old banyan tree
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The day began with a march past. I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The railway station is always busy.
11. 11.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 classroom (b) our postman (c) the night sky (d) grandma's garden
12. 12.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
13. 13.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 best friend (b) making a rangoli (c) our school sports day (d) the night sky
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
15. 15.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
16. 16.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) the school library (b) the night sky (c) making a rangoli (d) elephants
17. 17.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) ants (b) the rainy season (c) our postman (d) a busy railway station
18. 18.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) the old banyan tree (c) our postman (d) eating healthy food
19. 19.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    In January, the sky fills with kites. Children fly kites from their rooftops. Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) flying kites (b) saving water (c) eating healthy food (d) the night sky
20. 20.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
21. 21.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) a busy railway station (c) the school library (d) our trip to the zoo
22. 22.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) a visit to an old fort (b) the old banyan tree (c) our school sports day (d) making a rangoli
23. 23.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
24. 24.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) the school library (b) a day at the beach (c) making a rangoli (d) our pet cat
25. 25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
26. 26.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. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
27. 27.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
28. 28.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) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
29. 29.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) a busy railway station (b) our pet cat (c) a cricket match (d) saving water
30. 30.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) grandma's garden (b) our school sports day (c) a busy railway station (d) my new bicycle
31. 31.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
32. 32.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
33. 33.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. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
34. 34.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. The postman knows every house on our street. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
35. 35.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. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
36. 36.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
37. 37.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
38. 38.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The railway station is always busy.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
40. 40.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.

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