Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 440 · 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?
   
   ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
2. 2.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 grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
3. 3.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) our pet cat (b) making a rangoli (c) eating healthy food (d) a busy railway station
4. 4.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) elephants (b) our classroom (c) the vegetable market (d) my new bicycle
5. 5.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
6. 6.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
7. 7.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
8. 8.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
9. 9.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) a day at the beach (b) our school sports day (c) my best friend (d) saving water
10. 10.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) the peacock (c) our pet cat (d) a visit to an old fort
11. 11.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) grandma's garden (c) a visit to an old fort (d) a busy railway station
12. 12.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) a day at the beach (c) saving water (d) the village fair
13. 13.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
14. 14.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
16. 16.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) ants (c) the village fair (d) the school library
17. 17.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) flying kites (b) grandma's garden (c) the old banyan tree (d) the rainy season
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
19. 19.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 day at the beach (b) our school sports day (c) our trip to the zoo (d) making a rangoli
20. 20.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
21. 21.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
22. 22.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) a cricket match (b) the vegetable market (c) my new bicycle (d) my grandfather
23. 23.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The railway station is always busy.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) We must not waste water. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
25. 25.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) a day at the beach (b) my best friend (c) our school sports day (d) making a rangoli
26. 26.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) We must not waste water. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The railway station is always busy.
27. 27.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) our trip to the zoo (b) our school sports day (c) the village fair (d) a busy railway station
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
29. 29.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
30. 30.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) We must not waste water.
31. 31.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
32. 32.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 rainy season (b) flying kites (c) my new bicycle (d) a cricket match
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
34. 34.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
35. 35.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
37. 37.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) a busy railway station (c) our school sports day (d) ants
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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
39. 39.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.

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