Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 452 · 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 branches spread very wide. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
3. 3.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
4. 4.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) our classroom (b) the old banyan tree (c) my new bicycle (d) the rainy season
5. 5.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) We must not waste water. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
6. 6.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
7. 7.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) flying kites (b) the rainy season (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
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) making a rangoli (b) eating healthy food (c) saving water (d) our classroom
9. 9.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   The night sky is full of wonders. Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) a busy railway station (b) my grandfather (c) my new bicycle (d) the night sky
10. 10.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) our classroom (c) the school library (d) the village fair
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
12. 12.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) We must not waste water. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
13. 13.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) a cricket match (b) the peacock (c) our postman (d) our trip to the zoo
14. 14.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) the school library (b) the village fair (c) making a rangoli (d) grandma's garden
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The railway station is always busy.
16. 16.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) our classroom (b) ants (c) elephants (d) making a rangoli
17. 17.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
18. 18.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) saving water (b) the village fair (c) grandma's garden (d) the old banyan tree
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) We must not waste water.
20. 20.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 peacock (b) the vegetable market (c) a busy railway station (d) the school library
21. 21.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
23. 23.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 vegetable market (b) making a rangoli (c) eating healthy food (d) our classroom
24. 24.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) flying kites (b) eating healthy food (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our classroom
25. 25.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The railway station is always busy.
26. 26.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
28. 28.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) flying kites (b) our school sports day (c) ants (d) a cricket match
29. 29.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
30. 30.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
31. 31.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
32. 32.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 store food for the winter. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
33. 33.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) a visit to an old fort (b) flying kites (c) the rainy season (d) the night sky
34. 34.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. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
36. 36.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) We must not waste water. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
37. 37.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 school sports day (b) a day at the beach (c) the peacock (d) our trip to the zoo
38. 38.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) our pet cat (b) eating healthy food (c) our classroom (d) elephants
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
40. 40.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 library is my favourite place. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.

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