Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 692 · 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?
   
   ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
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) a busy railway station (b) the rainy season (c) a cricket match (d) the night sky
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
4. 4.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
5. 5.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 busy railway station (b) making a rangoli (c) my grandfather (d) the school library
6. 6.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 school library (b) our pet cat (c) eating healthy food (d) the village fair
7. 7.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
8. 8.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) our school sports day (b) saving water (c) the rainy season (d) eating healthy food
9. 9.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) the village fair (c) eating healthy food (d) my grandfather
10. 10.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) 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) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
11. 11.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
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) our classroom (b) my grandfather (c) eating healthy food (d) a day at the beach
14. 14.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) the rainy season (b) saving water (c) a cricket match (d) grandma's garden
15. 15.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 store food for the winter. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
16. 16.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
17. 17.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
18. 18.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The railway station is always busy.
19. 19.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
20. 20.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 postman (c) the rainy season (d) our trip to the zoo
21. 21.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
22. 22.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) the night sky (b) a day at the beach (c) our pet cat (d) our trip to the zoo
23. 23.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
25. 25.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) a cricket match (c) the village fair (d) making a rangoli
26. 26.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
27. 27.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
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) The railway station is always busy. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
29. 29.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 postman (b) a day at the beach (c) my grandfather (d) a busy railway station
30. 30.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) our trip to the zoo (c) a day at the beach (d) a visit to an old fort
31. 31.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. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
32. 32.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) grandma's garden (b) our pet cat (c) a busy railway station (d) my best friend
33. 33.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 rainy season (b) a busy railway station (c) our classroom (d) saving water
34. 34.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) the school library (c) a visit to an old fort (d) elephants
35. 35.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. We may borrow two books every week. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
36. 36.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 rainy season (b) my best friend (c) our classroom (d) our trip to the zoo
37. 37.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
38. 38.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) our school sports day (b) my new bicycle (c) a day at the beach (d) ants
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
40. 40.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.

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