Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 593 · 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?
   
   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) my new bicycle (c) saving water (d) grandma's garden
2. 2.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
3. 3.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
4. 4.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
5. 5.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 rainy season (b) our postman (c) our classroom (d) our pet cat
6. 6.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) a day at the beach (b) the night sky (c) eating healthy food (d) the vegetable market
7. 7.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) a day at the beach (c) my new bicycle (d) the vegetable market
8. 8.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The railway station is always busy.
9. 9.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 classroom (b) saving water (c) grandma's garden (d) the village fair
10. 10.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) a day at the beach (b) the school library (c) saving water (d) elephants
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
12. 12.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We must not waste water.
13. 13.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 school library (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the old banyan tree (d) making a rangoli
14. 14.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 grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
15. 15.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
16. 16.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) our classroom (b) the peacock (c) a day at the beach (d) a cricket match
17. 17.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) elephants (b) the peacock (c) my grandfather (d) our pet cat
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
20. 20.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) my grandfather (b) our classroom (c) grandma's garden (d) the night sky
21. 21.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
22. 22.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) our school sports day (b) making a rangoli (c) our postman (d) a visit to an old fort
23. 23.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
24. 24.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) saving water (c) my grandfather (d) my best friend
25. 25.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) ants (c) the peacock (d) the village fair
26. 26.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) the vegetable market (c) our postman (d) our pet cat
27. 27.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
31. 31.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
32. 32.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) We must not waste water.
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) my grandfather (b) our trip to the zoo (c) flying kites (d) grandma's garden
35. 35.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
36. 36.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
38. 38.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) We must not waste water. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
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. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
40. 40.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.

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