Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 439 · 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 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) my best friend (b) the school library (c) a day at the beach (d) our classroom
2. 2.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
3. 3.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) our classroom (b) our postman (c) the village fair (d) our school sports day
4. 4.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 postman (b) the village fair (c) my best friend (d) our pet cat
5. 5.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) my grandfather (b) eating healthy food (c) the village fair (d) flying kites
6. 6.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) our postman (c) the school library (d) our school sports day
7. 7.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) our classroom (b) saving water (c) the night sky (d) my grandfather
8. 8.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
9. 9.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
11. 11.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
12. 12.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
13. 13.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 night sky (b) my grandfather (c) making a rangoli (d) our classroom
14. 14.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
15. 15.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) We must not waste water. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
16. 16.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) We must not waste water. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
17. 17.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
18. 18.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. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The railway station is always busy.
19. 19.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
20. 20.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. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
21. 21.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) our school sports day (c) the village fair (d) the school library
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
23. 23.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) a day at the beach (c) grandma's garden (d) our pet cat
24. 24.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) flying kites (b) the peacock (c) a day at the beach (d) my new bicycle
25. 25.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
26. 26.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) elephants (b) ants (c) a busy railway station (d) eating healthy food
27. 27.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
28. 28.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 peacock (b) the old banyan tree (c) our postman (d) ants
29. 29.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. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
31. 31.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
32. 32.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
33. 33.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) We must not waste water. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The railway station is always busy.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
36. 36.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. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The railway station is always busy.
38. 38.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
39. 39.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
40. 40.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) grandma's garden (b) making a rangoli (c) the vegetable market (d) the peacock

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