Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 56 · 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?
   
   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) the night sky (b) making a rangoli (c) the rainy season (d) a cricket match
2. 2.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
3. 3.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) grandma's garden (c) the old banyan tree (d) the school library
4. 4.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
5. 5.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
6. 6.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
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) elephants (b) the village fair (c) our pet cat (d) our school sports day
8. 8.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
9. 9.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. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
10. 10.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) the vegetable market (b) our pet cat (c) flying kites (d) a day at the beach
11. 11.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
12. 12.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
13. 13.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 trip to the zoo (b) grandma's garden (c) elephants (d) a cricket match
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
15. 15.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
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 ride it to the park every evening. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
17. 17.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) a cricket match (b) saving water (c) our postman (d) the old banyan tree
18. 18.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) eating healthy food (b) flying kites (c) ants (d) the old banyan tree
19. 19.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
20. 20.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
21. 21.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
22. 22.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) eating healthy food (b) a visit to an old fort (c) my grandfather (d) flying kites
23. 23.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
24. 24.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
25. 25.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
28. 28.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) flying kites (b) my new bicycle (c) our school sports day (d) ants
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
30. 30.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
31. 31.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) our pet cat (c) my new bicycle (d) our school sports day
32. 32.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
33. 33.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
34. 34.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 postman (b) a day at the beach (c) the night sky (d) our trip to the zoo
35. 35.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
36. 36.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) my best friend (c) a day at the beach (d) the vegetable market
37. 37.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 rainy season (b) my grandfather (c) the village fair (d) flying kites
38. 38.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
39. 39.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) elephants (b) saving water (c) grandma's garden (d) the vegetable market
40. 40.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) our trip to the zoo (c) my best friend (d) the school library

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