Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 622 · 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 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) making a rangoli (b) flying kites (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the rainy season
2. 2.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
3. 3.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 pet cat (b) eating healthy food (c) grandma's garden (d) making a rangoli
4. 4.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
5. 5.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) We must not waste water. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
6. 6.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) grandma's garden (b) the old banyan tree (c) our classroom (d) saving water
7. 7.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We must not waste water.
8. 8.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
9. 9.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) flying kites (c) my best friend (d) the old banyan tree
10. 10.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) my best friend (b) a busy railway station (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a cricket match
11. 11.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 must not waste water. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
12. 12.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 school sports day (b) ants (c) the school library (d) our pet cat
13. 13.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) elephants (b) a cricket match (c) our pet cat (d) our postman
14. 14.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
16. 16.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) a visit to an old fort (b) saving water (c) our trip to the zoo (d) my grandfather
17. 17.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
18. 18.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
19. 19.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
20. 20.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. A green board hangs at the front. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
21. 21.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) the rainy season (b) the village fair (c) elephants (d) a cricket match
22. 22.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) 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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
23. 23.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
24. 24.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
25. 25.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
26. 26.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) elephants (b) flying kites (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
27. 27.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) ants (b) making a rangoli (c) the village fair (d) saving water
28. 28.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
29. 29.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) saving water (b) a visit to an old fort (c) our pet cat (d) our school sports day
30. 30.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The railway station is always busy.
31. 31.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
32. 32.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) ants (b) the old banyan tree (c) elephants (d) my new bicycle
33. 33.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
34. 34.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
35. 35.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 new bicycle (b) our school sports day (c) the night sky (d) the old banyan tree
36. 36.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
38. 38.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
39. 39.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.

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