Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 445 · 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) elephants (b) our pet cat (c) the village fair (d) saving water
2. 2.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 school library (b) the night sky (c) elephants (d) a visit to an old fort
3. 3.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
5. 5.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) our trip to the zoo (b) my best friend (c) a day at the beach (d) a cricket match
6. 6.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
7. 7.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The railway station is always busy.
8. 8.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) a busy railway station (c) the old banyan tree (d) making a rangoli
9. 9.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) our postman (b) a visit to an old fort (c) my grandfather (d) the rainy season
10. 10.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) grandma's garden (b) a cricket match (c) eating healthy food (d) the village fair
11. 11.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) We must not waste water. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
12. 12.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) ants (b) our pet cat (c) a busy railway station (d) the old banyan tree
13. 13.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 visit to an old fort (b) my new bicycle (c) saving water (d) the village fair
14. 14.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) the peacock (c) the rainy season (d) the vegetable market
15. 15.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) elephants (b) the peacock (c) eating healthy food (d) flying kites
16. 16.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
17. 17.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
18. 18.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
19. 19.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
20. 20.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
21. 21.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) saving water
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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
23. 23.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
24. 24.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
25. 25.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
26. 26.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
27. 27.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
28. 28.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) a cricket match (b) the school library (c) our trip to the zoo (d) elephants
29. 29.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
30. 30.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) We must not waste water.
31. 31.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
32. 32.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) the vegetable market (b) the school library (c) a visit to an old fort (d) elephants
33. 33.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) eating healthy food (b) the vegetable market (c) elephants (d) a busy railway station
34. 34.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
35. 35.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) flying kites (c) the night sky (d) a busy railway station
36. 36.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
37. 37.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
38. 38.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 sports day was full of fun. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
39. 39.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
40. 40.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.

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