Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 666 · 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?
   
   ___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
2. 2.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) ants (b) a busy railway station (c) making a rangoli (d) the night sky
3. 3.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) making a rangoli (b) ants (c) the night sky (d) elephants
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) the old banyan tree (b) my grandfather (c) the school library (d) the peacock
5. 5.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) our classroom (b) elephants (c) the peacock (d) our trip to the zoo
6. 6.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
7. 7.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
8. 8.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
9. 9.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
10. 10.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 rainy season (b) our classroom (c) the peacock (d) the school library
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
12. 12.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) a cricket match (b) my new bicycle (c) making a rangoli (d) my best friend
13. 13.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) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
14. 14.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
15. 15.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 school library (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the rainy season (d) a busy railway station
16. 16.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
17. 17.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We must not waste water.
18. 18.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
19. 19.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) our postman (c) the peacock (d) a busy railway station
20. 20.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
21. 21.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 vegetable market (b) saving water (c) elephants (d) my grandfather
22. 22.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    An old banyan tree stands in our village. Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) the school library (b) ants (c) the old banyan tree (d) my best friend
23. 23.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) eating healthy food (b) a cricket match (c) our school sports day (d) elephants
24. 24.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) the peacock (b) the old banyan tree (c) eating healthy food (d) my best friend
25. 25.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
26. 26.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
28. 28.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
29. 29.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
30. 30.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 old banyan tree (c) the night sky (d) our school sports day
31. 31.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
32. 32.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) my new bicycle (c) a busy railway station (d) making a rangoli
33. 33.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The railway station is always busy.
35. 35.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) the night sky (c) my best friend (d) a visit to an old fort
36. 36.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) making a rangoli (b) flying kites (c) our postman (d) our classroom
37. 37.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) ants (b) my best friend (c) a visit to an old fort (d) elephants
38. 38.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
39. 39.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
40. 40.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.

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