Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 533 · 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?
   
   ___ The day began with a march past. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
2. 2.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
3. 3.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
4. 4.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
5. 5.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
6. 6.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. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) the village fair (b) flying kites (c) the school library (d) a busy railway station
8. 8.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
9. 9.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
10. 10.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
12. 12.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
13. 13.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
14. 14.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. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
15. 15.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) my new bicycle (b) elephants (c) eating healthy food (d) ants
16. 16.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) the night sky (b) my new bicycle (c) saving water (d) elephants
17. 17.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
18. 18.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 cricket match (b) grandma's garden (c) our pet cat (d) a busy railway station
19. 19.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) our pet cat (c) my best friend (d) our postman
20. 20.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
21. 21.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
22. 22.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
23. 23.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
24. 24.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) the night sky (b) grandma's garden (c) the rainy season (d) the village fair
25. 25.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) my best friend (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our postman (d) a visit to an old fort
26. 26.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) my new bicycle (b) our pet cat (c) the rainy season (d) our trip to the zoo
27. 27.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
28. 28.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
29. 29.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) our classroom (b) our pet cat (c) the night sky (d) a cricket match
30. 30.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. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
31. 31.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
32. 32.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) grandma's garden (b) my new bicycle (c) making a rangoli (d) eating healthy food
33. 33.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
34. 34.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) our postman (b) the peacock (c) my new bicycle (d) a busy railway station
35. 35.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) our classroom (b) a busy railway station (c) the vegetable market (d) the old banyan tree
36. 36.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
37. 37.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) my best friend (b) making a rangoli (c) the rainy season (d) our pet cat
38. 38.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
39. 39.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
40. 40.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.

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