Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 626 · 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?
   
   ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
2. 2.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) a busy railway station (b) the night sky (c) a cricket match (d) our postman
3. 3.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) a visit to an old fort (b) my grandfather (c) eating healthy food (d) my best friend
4. 4.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) grandma's garden (c) making a rangoli (d) the school library
5. 5.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
6. 6.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 new bicycle (b) a busy railway station (c) the old banyan tree (d) grandma's garden
7. 7.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
8. 8.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) my best friend (b) ants (c) the village fair (d) the peacock
9. 9.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
10. 10.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 have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
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 busy railway station (b) flying kites (c) the school library (d) grandma's garden
12. 12.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
13. 13.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
14. 14.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) our classroom (b) the vegetable market (c) my grandfather (d) our trip to the zoo
15. 15.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The railway station is always busy.
16. 16.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) the vegetable market (b) making a rangoli (c) our school sports day (d) elephants
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The librarian helps us find good books. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
19. 19.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) my new bicycle (b) our school sports day (c) the village fair (d) elephants
20. 20.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) ants (b) flying kites (c) my new bicycle (d) the rainy season
21. 21.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
22. 22.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) our postman (b) the peacock (c) the vegetable market (d) saving water
23. 23.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
24. 24.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
25. 25.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
26. 26.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
27. 27.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) my new bicycle (b) eating healthy food (c) our school sports day (d) a visit to an old fort
28. 28.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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 was full of fun. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
31. 31.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) the school library (b) my new bicycle (c) the rainy season (d) our classroom
32. 32.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
33. 33.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) making a rangoli (b) a day at the beach (c) the vegetable market (d) ants
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
35. 35.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
37. 37.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
38. 38.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
40. 40.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.

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