Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 529 · 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?
   
   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) our trip to the zoo (b) the vegetable market (c) the school library (d) the night sky
2. 2.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
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. We place small lamps around the design. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
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 school library (b) the night sky (c) ants (d) my best friend
5. 5.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) the village fair (b) the night sky (c) elephants (d) ants
6. 6.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) our pet cat (b) my new bicycle (c) my best friend (d) my grandfather
7. 7.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
8. 8.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 school library (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the old banyan tree
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ 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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
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 peacock (c) the vegetable market (d) the rainy season
11. 11.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) a visit to an old fort (b) our classroom (c) a cricket match (d) making a rangoli
12. 12.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
13. 13.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) our postman (b) our classroom (c) the school library (d) the peacock
14. 14.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
15. 15.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 postman (b) saving water (c) our school sports day (d) the rainy season
16. 16.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We must not waste water.
17. 17.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    We have a pet cat named Mishti. She has soft white fur and green eyes. Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) our pet cat (b) our classroom (c) my new bicycle (d) our trip to the zoo
18. 18.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
19. 19.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 rainy season (b) the old banyan tree (c) eating healthy food (d) my new bicycle
20. 20.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) my new bicycle (b) our school sports day (c) my best friend (d) the rainy season
21. 21.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
22. 22.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) saving water (c) a cricket match (d) a busy railway station
23. 23.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
25. 25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
26. 26.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
27. 27.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) my grandfather (b) the peacock (c) eating healthy food (d) the night sky
28. 28.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) grandma's garden (c) our classroom (d) saving water
29. 29.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
31. 31.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 pet cat (b) my new bicycle (c) saving water (d) a day at the beach
32. 32.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
33. 33.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
34. 34.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 village fair (b) grandma's garden (c) eating healthy food (d) elephants
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
36. 36.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 rainy season (b) our classroom (c) the old banyan tree (d) the school library
37. 37.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. The postman knows every house on our street. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
38. 38.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 pet cat (b) ants (c) a cricket match (d) our trip to the zoo
39. 39.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The railway station is always busy.
40. 40.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.

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