Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 67 · 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?
   
   ___ I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) the village fair (b) a cricket match (c) my grandfather (d) the old banyan tree
3. 3.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
4. 4.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 day at the beach (b) the old banyan tree (c) a visit to an old fort (d) my grandfather
5. 5.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
6. 6.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the village fair (c) the rainy season (d) our school sports day
7. 7.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) the village fair (c) the rainy season (d) saving water
8. 8.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
9. 9.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. We buy strong string for our kites. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
10. 10.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
11. 11.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 village fair (b) the old banyan tree (c) our school sports day (d) our postman
12. 12.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
13. 13.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) a cricket match (b) my new bicycle (c) making a rangoli (d) eating healthy food
14. 14.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The railway station is always busy.
15. 15.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
16. 16.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
17. 17.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
18. 18.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) flying kites (b) a busy railway station (c) eating healthy food (d) our trip to the zoo
19. 19.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) my best friend (c) the rainy season (d) flying kites
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
21. 21.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
22. 22.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
23. 23.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. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
24. 24.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
25. 25.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) a cricket match (b) our pet cat (c) the peacock (d) ants
26. 26.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 postman (b) the vegetable market (c) ants (d) making a rangoli
27. 27.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 grandfather (b) the village fair (c) our school sports day (d) the school library
28. 28.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
29. 29.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
30. 30.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
32. 32.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the night sky (c) eating healthy food (d) elephants
33. 33.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
34. 34.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
36. 36.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) a day at the beach (b) the peacock (c) ants (d) the rainy season
37. 37.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
38. 38.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) We must not waste water. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
39. 39.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 railway station is always busy. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.

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