Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 70 · 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.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) my best friend (b) our classroom (c) our school sports day (d) a cricket match
2. 2.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
3. 3.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) our school sports day (b) the old banyan tree (c) saving water (d) the school library
4. 4.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) flying kites (b) my new bicycle (c) the village fair (d) our school sports day
5. 5.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We must not waste water. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
6. 6.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
7. 7.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) a day at the beach (b) flying kites (c) the rainy season (d) my new bicycle
8. 8.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
9. 9.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) making a rangoli (b) my new bicycle (c) our school sports day (d) the village fair
10. 10.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
11. 11.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
12. 12.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The railway station is always busy.
13. 13.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
14. 14.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
15. 15.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The railway station is always busy.
16. 16.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) saving water (c) a day at the beach (d) our trip to the zoo
17. 17.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) the old banyan tree (b) our trip to the zoo (c) ants (d) grandma's garden
18. 18.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) elephants (b) eating healthy food (c) our pet cat (d) grandma's garden
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) ants (b) our trip to the zoo (c) making a rangoli (d) grandma's garden
20. 20.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) the school library (c) the night sky (d) saving water
21. 21.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
22. 22.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 grandfather (b) a visit to an old fort (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a busy railway station
23. 23.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. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
24. 24.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
25. 25.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
26. 26.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
27. 27.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
31. 31.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
32. 32.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) a visit to an old fort (c) our postman (d) my best friend
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) our postman (b) the village fair (c) our pet cat (d) our trip to the zoo
34. 34.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
36. 36.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) the old banyan tree (b) the peacock (c) ants (d) eating healthy food
37. 37.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
38. 38.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
39. 39.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We must not waste water. (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?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. He carries a big brown bag of letters. The postman knows every house on our street. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.

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