Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 635 · 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 is red with a shiny silver bell. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
2. 2.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. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The railway station is always busy.
3. 3.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
4. 4.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. Farhan and I play football after school. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) our school sports day (b) the school library (c) our postman (d) my new bicycle
7. 7.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
8. 8.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
9. 9.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 village fair (b) a day at the beach (c) our classroom (d) our pet cat
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
11. 11.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 trip to the zoo (b) our postman (c) the old banyan tree (d) a day at the beach
12. 12.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) elephants (c) a busy railway station (d) my best friend
13. 13.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
14. 14.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
15. 15.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 grandfather (b) the rainy season (c) ants (d) a busy railway station
16. 16.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) our trip to the zoo (b) making a rangoli (c) the old banyan tree (d) a cricket match
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The day began with a march past. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
18. 18.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) my new bicycle (b) ants (c) my best friend (d) our pet cat
19. 19.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We must not waste water. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
20. 20.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 school library (b) our school sports day (c) eating healthy food (d) making a rangoli
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) the rainy season (b) flying kites (c) the village fair (d) a cricket match
22. 22.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
24. 24.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
26. 26.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
27. 27.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) the rainy season (c) a cricket match (d) my best friend
28. 28.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
29. 29.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
30. 30.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
32. 32.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
33. 33.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) grandma's garden (b) the night sky (c) my best friend (d) our pet cat
34. 34.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 peacock (b) our pet cat (c) flying kites (d) the rainy season
35. 35.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) saving water (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the vegetable market (d) a busy railway station
36. 36.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) grandma's garden (b) my best friend (c) the rainy season (d) a visit to an old fort
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) We must not waste water. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
38. 38.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
39. 39.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 sports day was full of fun. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.

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