Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 549 · 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?
   
   ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
2. 2.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 pet cat (c) our classroom (d) our postman
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. We collected shells near the shore. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
5. 5.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 village fair (b) a day at the beach (c) our school sports day (d) my best friend
6. 6.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
7. 7.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) the village fair (b) the night sky (c) our pet cat (d) our postman
8. 8.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) the vegetable market (b) a busy railway station (c) saving water (d) our school sports day
9. 9.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
10. 10.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) the rainy season (d) saving water
11. 11.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
12. 12.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 night sky (b) our pet cat (c) the rainy season (d) making a rangoli
13. 13.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) a cricket match (c) a visit to an old fort (d) eating healthy food
14. 14.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 peacock (b) saving water (c) making a rangoli (d) my new bicycle
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
16. 16.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
17. 17.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The railway station is always busy.
18. 18.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. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
19. 19.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
20. 20.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) the rainy season (b) the school library (c) grandma's garden (d) my new bicycle
21. 21.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 rainy season (b) the peacock (c) grandma's garden (d) a day at the beach
22. 22.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
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) the night sky (b) my new bicycle (c) the peacock (d) our school sports day
24. 24.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) saving water (b) the school library (c) eating healthy food (d) a visit to an old fort
25. 25.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 walk one behind the other in a line. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
26. 26.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
27. 27.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
30. 30.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) our school sports day (b) our pet cat (c) a busy railway station (d) a visit to an old fort
31. 31.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
32. 32.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
33. 33.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
34. 34.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) our pet cat (b) my best friend (c) a busy railway station (d) eating healthy food
35. 35.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
36. 36.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) eating healthy food (b) my grandfather (c) the village fair (d) the peacock
37. 37.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
38. 38.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
39. 39.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
40. 40.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.

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