Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 434 · 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 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) the school library (b) our pet cat (c) grandma's garden (d) the village fair
2. 2.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
3. 3.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) the old banyan tree (b) eating healthy food (c) saving water (d) the rainy season
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
6. 6.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
7. 7.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   My grandfather is seventy years old. My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) my grandfather (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the night sky (d) our postman
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
9. 9.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 grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We must not waste water.
10. 10.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
11. 11.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. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
12. 12.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) the rainy season (b) a cricket match (c) the school library (d) our pet cat
13. 13.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
14. 14.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
15. 15.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
16. 16.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
17. 17.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
18. 18.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) the village fair (b) the school library (c) the rainy season (d) a day at the beach
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
20. 20.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 busy railway station (b) a cricket match (c) my new bicycle (d) elephants
21. 21.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
22. 22.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
23. 23.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 pet cat (b) the vegetable market (c) our classroom (d) my best friend
24. 24.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
25. 25.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
26. 26.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 trip to the zoo (b) the peacock (c) flying kites (d) the rainy season
27. 27.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
28. 28.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
29. 29.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
30. 30.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) grandma's garden (b) our school sports day (c) saving water (d) the old banyan tree
31. 31.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
32. 32.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
33. 33.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) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
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 school library (b) the rainy season (c) the night sky (d) my new bicycle
35. 35.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
36. 36.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) my new bicycle (b) grandma's garden (c) the rainy season (d) my best friend
37. 37.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
38. 38.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
39. 39.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.

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