Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 583 · 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?
   
   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 old banyan tree (b) my new bicycle (c) a day at the beach (d) the rainy season
2. 2.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
3. 3.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
4. 4.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 grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
5. 5.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) making a rangoli (c) the peacock (d) our trip to the zoo
6. 6.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
7. 7.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) elephants (b) a visit to an old fort (c) my grandfather (d) the vegetable market
8. 8.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 school sports day (b) elephants (c) the rainy season (d) my best friend
9. 9.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
10. 10.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 school sports day (b) flying kites (c) my new bicycle (d) saving water
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. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
13. 13.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
14. 14.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 school sports day (b) grandma's garden (c) making a rangoli (d) my grandfather
15. 15.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. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The railway station is always busy.
16. 16.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
17. 17.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) a busy railway station (b) flying kites (c) the rainy season (d) our trip to the zoo
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
21. 21.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) the vegetable market (b) grandma's garden (c) a day at the beach (d) the night sky
22. 22.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
23. 23.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) eating healthy food (b) the peacock (c) the village fair (d) a day at the beach
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. 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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
25. 25.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) our school sports day (c) the old banyan tree (d) saving water
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
27. 27.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) the vegetable market (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the old banyan tree (d) flying kites
28. 28.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
29. 29.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
30. 30.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) my new bicycle (b) flying kites (c) grandma's garden (d) the peacock
31. 31.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
32. 32.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
33. 33.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 new bicycle (b) making a rangoli (c) a busy railway station (d) our classroom
34. 34.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) saving water (c) our postman (d) the village fair
35. 35.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) eating healthy food (b) grandma's garden (c) elephants (d) our pet cat
36. 36.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. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
37. 37.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) my best friend (c) saving water (d) the school library
38. 38.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. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
39. 39.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
40. 40.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.

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