Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 691 · 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 stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
2. 2.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
3. 3.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
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) flying kites (b) our pet cat (c) the school library (d) our postman
5. 5.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 old banyan tree (b) elephants (c) our pet cat (d) a day at the beach
6. 6.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
7. 7.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) the village fair (b) a cricket match (c) flying kites (d) our postman
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. We collected shells near the shore. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
9. 9.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) ants (b) our school sports day (c) elephants (d) our trip to the zoo
10. 10.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) a day at the beach (b) making a rangoli (c) the school library (d) the night sky
11. 11.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) flying kites (b) a cricket match (c) grandma's garden (d) our pet cat
12. 12.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) We must not waste water. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
13. 13.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) a day at the beach (b) elephants (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our classroom
14. 14.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the village fair (c) the school library (d) eating healthy food
15. 15.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
16. 16.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
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. She sprinkles the plants every morning. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
19. 19.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 classroom (b) our postman (c) a day at the beach (d) my grandfather
20. 20.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) grandma's garden (b) flying kites (c) elephants (d) our trip to the zoo
21. 21.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 oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
22. 22.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. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
23. 23.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 old banyan tree (c) a busy railway station (d) the village fair
24. 24.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
25. 25.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) the peacock (b) grandma's garden (c) making a rangoli (d) our postman
26. 26.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We must not waste water. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
27. 27.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) a cricket match (b) our pet cat (c) a busy railway station (d) ants
28. 28.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
29. 29.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
30. 30.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) the rainy season (b) the old banyan tree (c) our school sports day (d) making a rangoli
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. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
32. 32.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
33. 33.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) a visit to an old fort (c) the peacock (d) a busy railway station
34. 34.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
35. 35.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 classroom (c) my grandfather (d) my new bicycle
36. 36.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
37. 37.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
38. 38.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
39. 39.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
40. 40.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.

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