Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 477 · 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?
   
   ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
2. 2.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
3. 3.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
4. 4.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 school sports day (c) ants (d) my grandfather
5. 5.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
6. 6.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
7. 7.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 school library (b) my grandfather (c) our school sports day (d) the peacock
8. 8.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) my grandfather (b) a busy railway station (c) my best friend (d) a cricket match
9. 9.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) elephants (b) eating healthy food (c) the old banyan tree (d) our postman
10. 10.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. Its seat is soft and comfortable. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
12. 12.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
13. 13.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. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
14. 14.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) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. The postman knows every house on our street. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
16. 16.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 village fair (b) the night sky (c) our pet cat (d) my best friend
17. 17.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
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. The winners got shiny medals. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
19. 19.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) eating healthy food (b) the school library (c) grandma's garden (d) our trip to the zoo
20. 20.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
21. 21.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) flying kites (b) a busy railway station (c) the night sky (d) a visit to an old fort
22. 22.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) my grandfather (c) ants (d) elephants
23. 23.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) making a rangoli (b) the rainy season (c) our school sports day (d) the school library
24. 24.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) flying kites (c) my grandfather (d) our pet cat
25. 25.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We must not waste water.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
27. 27.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) our trip to the zoo (c) our pet cat (d) the school library
28. 28.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) the rainy season (c) flying kites (d) my new bicycle
29. 29.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) the old banyan tree (b) the vegetable market (c) making a rangoli (d) our school sports day
30. 30.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
31. 31.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
32. 32.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
33. 33.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
34. 34.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) the peacock (b) the night sky (c) grandma's garden (d) a cricket match
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
36. 36.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
37. 37.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
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 railway station is always busy. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
39. 39.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
40. 40.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.

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