Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 623 · 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?
   
   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 pet cat (b) a day at the beach (c) our school sports day (d) a visit to an old fort
2. 2.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
4. 4.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 visit to an old fort (b) a busy railway station (c) a day at the beach (d) grandma's garden
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) our pet cat (b) saving water (c) the night sky (d) a busy railway station
6. 6.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
7. 7.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
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 school library (b) elephants (c) saving water (d) the old banyan tree
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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
11. 11.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) my best friend (b) the vegetable market (c) a cricket match (d) my grandfather
12. 12.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the night sky (c) the village fair (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) our postman (c) flying kites (d) ants
14. 14.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. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
15. 15.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) my new bicycle (b) a day at the beach (c) eating healthy food (d) elephants
16. 16.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. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
17. 17.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 peacock (b) the village fair (c) a busy railway station (d) my new bicycle
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 vegetable market (b) my best friend (c) eating healthy food (d) a visit to an old fort
19. 19.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
20. 20.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
21. 21.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) flying kites (b) elephants (c) the rainy season (d) our pet cat
22. 22.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The railway station is always busy.
23. 23.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
24. 24.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
25. 25.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
26. 26.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The railway station is always busy.
27. 27.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
28. 28.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) the vegetable market (b) grandma's garden (c) the old banyan tree (d) the rainy season
29. 29.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
30. 30.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) making a rangoli (b) eating healthy food (c) the rainy season (d) my new bicycle
31. 31.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
32. 32.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
33. 33.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) the night sky (b) saving water (c) our trip to the zoo (d) making a rangoli
34. 34.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 village fair (b) a cricket match (c) our classroom (d) the rainy season
35. 35.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) the vegetable market (b) our school sports day (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the rainy season
36. 36.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) our trip to the zoo (b) our classroom (c) saving water (d) the school library
37. 37.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
38. 38.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 night sky (b) the old banyan tree (c) our postman (d) a busy railway station
39. 39.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) saving water (b) a cricket match (c) our classroom (d) eating healthy food
40. 40.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.

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