Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 619 · 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?
   
   ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
2. 2.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 vegetable market (b) the village fair (c) the peacock (d) a busy railway station
3. 3.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) our classroom (b) the vegetable market (c) a busy railway station (d) the rainy season
4. 4.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) 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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
5. 5.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. She sleeps in a basket near the window. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
6. 6.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
7. 7.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. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
8. 8.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
9. 9.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) the vegetable market (b) saving water (c) the school library (d) my new bicycle
10. 10.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
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) a visit to an old fort (b) our trip to the zoo (c) a day at the beach (d) flying kites
12. 12.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) a cricket match (b) our trip to the zoo (c) making a rangoli (d) my new bicycle
13. 13.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) elephants (b) the night sky (c) our trip to the zoo (d) eating healthy food
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
15. 15.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
16. 16.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) a busy railway station (b) my best friend (c) our postman (d) a day at the beach
17. 17.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
18. 18.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) the village fair (b) my best friend (c) my new bicycle (d) the school library
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
21. 21.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 busy railway station (b) my grandfather (c) eating healthy food (d) our pet cat
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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
23. 23.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) my best friend (b) my grandfather (c) making a rangoli (d) ants
24. 24.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
25. 25.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 have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
26. 26.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
27. 27.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
28. 28.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) a day at the beach (b) my new bicycle (c) our school sports day (d) our classroom
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
30. 30.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) ants (b) the night sky (c) our pet cat (d) our postman
31. 31.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We must not waste water.
32. 32.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. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We must not waste water.
34. 34.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
35. 35.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
36. 36.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
37. 37.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
38. 38.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 trip to the zoo (b) a day at the beach (c) eating healthy food (d) the old banyan tree
39. 39.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) We must not waste water. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
40. 40.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) grandma's garden (b) the village fair (c) the rainy season (d) ants

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