Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 587 · 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?
   
   ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
2. 2.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 village fair (b) eating healthy food (c) the vegetable market (d) my best friend
3. 3.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
4. 4.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 old banyan tree (b) my new bicycle (c) a day at the beach (d) flying kites
5. 5.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
6. 6.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) a busy railway station (b) our trip to the zoo (c) elephants (d) my new bicycle
7. 7.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) a cricket match (b) our postman (c) eating healthy food (d) my best friend
8. 8.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 grandfather (c) saving water (d) the school library
9. 9.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
10. 10.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. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
11. 11.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) my new bicycle (b) our postman (c) making a rangoli (d) flying kites
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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
13. 13.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) our pet cat (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our school sports day
14. 14.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) a cricket match (b) the rainy season (c) the vegetable market (d) a day at the beach
15. 15.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. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
16. 16.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) the village fair (b) the vegetable market (c) our postman (d) saving water
17. 17.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
18. 18.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) the village fair (b) a visit to an old fort (c) our classroom (d) our trip to the zoo
19. 19.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) a busy railway station (b) a day at the beach (c) saving water (d) making a rangoli
20. 20.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
21. 21.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
22. 22.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. Our house won the tug of war. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
24. 24.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) our classroom (b) our school sports day (c) my new bicycle (d) saving water
25. 25.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
26. 26.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
27. 27.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) our school sports day (b) the peacock (c) elephants (d) our trip to the zoo
28. 28.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
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) flying kites (b) the peacock (c) eating healthy food (d) ants
31. 31.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
32. 32.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
33. 33.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
34. 34.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) a visit to an old fort (b) a cricket match (c) the old banyan tree (d) the school library
35. 35.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
37. 37.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
38. 38.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (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 has a long, bright blue neck. Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.

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