Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 523 · 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?
   
   ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
2. 2.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
3. 3.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
4. 4.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) my best friend (b) our pet cat (c) our postman (d) the school library
5. 5.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) the rainy season (c) my best friend (d) the peacock
6. 6.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) our classroom (b) a cricket match (c) flying kites (d) grandma's garden
7. 7.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 vegetable market (b) our postman (c) a busy railway station (d) the night sky
8. 8.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) saving water (b) making a rangoli (c) the school library (d) a day at the beach
9. 9.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
10. 10.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) flying kites (b) the village fair (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the vegetable market
11. 11.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) ants (b) our trip to the zoo (c) a busy railway station (d) eating healthy food
12. 12.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) our pet cat (b) the old banyan tree (c) a day at the beach (d) saving water
13. 13.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) elephants (b) the rainy season (c) eating healthy food (d) saving water
14. 14.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The railway station is always busy.
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
16. 16.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 rainy season (b) our school sports day (c) the old banyan tree (d) my best friend
17. 17.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
18. 18.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
20. 20.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
22. 22.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The railway station is always busy.
23. 23.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
24. 24.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. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
25. 25.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) eating healthy food (c) ants (d) making a rangoli
26. 26.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
27. 27.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
28. 28.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 school sports day (b) the school library (c) our postman (d) flying kites
29. 29.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) my grandfather (b) my new bicycle (c) a busy railway station (d) ants
30. 30.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) my best friend (b) the village fair (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the night sky
31. 31.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
32. 32.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) ants (b) the village fair (c) a busy railway station (d) my grandfather
33. 33.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 pet cat (b) the rainy season (c) a cricket match (d) ants
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
35. 35.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
36. 36.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
37. 37.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) our school sports day (b) a day at the beach (c) a busy railway station (d) a cricket match
38. 38.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) my best friend (b) a cricket match (c) our classroom (d) flying kites
39. 39.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) a visit to an old fort (b) saving water (c) my best friend (d) elephants
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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 school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.

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