Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 462 · 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?
   
   ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
2. 2.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
3. 3.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) the peacock (b) our classroom (c) a visit to an old fort (d) elephants
4. 4.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. A magician does tricks for the children. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
5. 5.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) the old banyan tree (b) flying kites (c) our school sports day (d) ants
6. 6.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) my grandfather (c) the peacock (d) the village fair
7. 7.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
8. 8.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
9. 9.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
11. 11.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
12. 12.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
13. 13.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
14. 14.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
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. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
16. 16.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
17. 17.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) grandma's garden (b) a cricket match (c) the school library (d) a busy railway station
18. 18.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
19. 19.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
20. 20.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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 trip to the zoo (b) our postman (c) the rainy season (d) ants
22. 22.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) a visit to an old fort (b) our pet cat (c) eating healthy food (d) grandma's garden
23. 23.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) our pet cat (c) making a rangoli (d) ants
24. 24.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
25. 25.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) a visit to an old fort (b) ants (c) flying kites (d) making a rangoli
26. 26.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 school library (b) elephants (c) the rainy season (d) ants
27. 27.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) my best friend (b) making a rangoli (c) the old banyan tree (d) the school library
28. 28.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 old banyan tree (b) grandma's garden (c) our pet cat (d) our trip to the zoo
29. 29.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) elephants (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the village fair (d) flying kites
30. 30.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    The peacock is the national bird of India. It has a long, bright blue neck. Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) the peacock (b) grandma's garden (c) the rainy season (d) our classroom
31. 31.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) We must not waste water.
32. 32.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. We place small lamps around the design. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
33. 33.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
34. 34.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) our classroom (b) the village fair (c) the rainy season (d) our pet cat
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
36. 36.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
37. 37.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) flying kites (b) the village fair (c) our pet cat (d) a busy railway station
38. 38.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) grandma's garden (b) eating healthy food (c) my grandfather (d) a cricket match
39. 39.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 day at the beach (b) our trip to the zoo (c) elephants (d) the school library
40. 40.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.

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