Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 62 · 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?
   
   My grandfather is seventy years old. My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) the school library (b) my grandfather (c) our classroom (d) flying kites
2. 2.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) our postman (b) our school sports day (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the village fair
3. 3.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) our classroom (c) the rainy season (d) eating healthy food
4. 4.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 day at the beach (b) my best friend (c) elephants (d) the peacock
5. 5.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 walk one behind the other in a line. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
6. 6.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 rainy season (b) our postman (c) the peacock (d) making a rangoli
7. 7.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
8. 8.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 night sky (b) grandma's garden (c) my best friend (d) the rainy season
9. 9.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
11. 11.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
12. 12.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
13. 13.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) elephants (b) saving water (c) the night sky (d) grandma's garden
14. 14.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) our school sports day (b) our pet cat (c) a day at the beach (d) saving water
15. 15.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
16. 16.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 village fair (b) my new bicycle (c) flying kites (d) making a rangoli
17. 17.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (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.
18. 18.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
20. 20.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
21. 21.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
22. 22.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The railway station is always busy.
23. 23.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) the vegetable market (c) our postman (d) making a rangoli
24. 24.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) We must not waste water. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
25. 25.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 library is my favourite place. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
26. 26.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
27. 27.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) our pet cat (b) eating healthy food (c) my grandfather (d) ants
28. 28.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (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.
29. 29.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
30. 30.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) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The railway station is always busy.
31. 31.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
32. 32.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 night sky (b) my new bicycle (c) the school library (d) our pet cat
33. 33.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. People bargain loudly over prices. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
34. 34.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
35. 35.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) my grandfather (b) eating healthy food (c) the rainy season (d) a day at the beach
36. 36.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) a busy railway station (b) a cricket match (c) our classroom (d) the village fair
37. 37.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
38. 38.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
39. 39.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
40. 40.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.

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