Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 447 · 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?
   
   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 classroom (b) the village fair (c) our trip to the zoo (d) flying kites
2. 2.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
5. 5.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) my new bicycle (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our classroom (d) the school library
6. 6.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) the rainy season (c) the village fair (d) our postman
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) flying kites (b) the peacock (c) saving water (d) our classroom
8. 8.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) my new bicycle (b) our classroom (c) eating healthy food (d) grandma's garden
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
10. 10.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
11. 11.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) We must not waste water.
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) the old banyan tree (b) a day at the beach (c) my best friend (d) our postman
13. 13.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
14. 14.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
15. 15.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) a day at the beach (b) the school library (c) grandma's garden (d) saving water
16. 16.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
17. 17.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 old banyan tree (b) making a rangoli (c) eating healthy food (d) the peacock
18. 18.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) grandma's garden (d) saving water
19. 19.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
20. 20.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We must not waste water.
21. 21.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the peacock (c) a day at the beach (d) grandma's garden
22. 22.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
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) a cricket match (b) our school sports day (c) our classroom (d) ants
24. 24.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) the rainy season (c) my best friend (d) the school library
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) the school library (b) the night sky (c) a cricket match (d) my best friend
26. 26.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) elephants (c) the vegetable market (d) the village fair
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) a busy railway station (b) ants (c) making a rangoli (d) the old banyan tree
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 vegetable market (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our classroom (d) ants
29. 29.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
30. 30.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
31. 31.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
32. 32.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) flying kites (b) grandma's garden (c) the vegetable market (d) our school sports day
33. 33.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) my grandfather (b) a busy railway station (c) our postman (d) making a rangoli
34. 34.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. We buy strong string for our kites. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. The librarian helps us find good books. We may borrow two books every week. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
37. 37.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
38. 38.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
39. 39.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.

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