Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 713 · 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?
   
   ___ The day began with a march past. I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
2. 2.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) eating healthy food (b) our postman (c) our classroom (d) saving water
3. 3.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
4. 4.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) saving water (b) our trip to the zoo (c) making a rangoli (d) grandma's garden
5. 5.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) a busy railway station (b) flying kites (c) my best friend (d) making a rangoli
6. 6.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The railway station is always busy.
7. 7.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. People bargain loudly over prices. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ 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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
9. 9.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
10. 10.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 vegetable market (b) the old banyan tree (c) our pet cat (d) a day at the beach
11. 11.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
13. 13.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) my best friend (b) the night sky (c) our classroom (d) the school library
14. 14.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) a busy railway station (b) elephants (c) ants (d) the school library
15. 15.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) a busy railway station (c) my best friend (d) our trip to the zoo
16. 16.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The railway station is always busy.
17. 17.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 village fair (b) our postman (c) a busy railway station (d) our classroom
18. 18.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) the school library (b) a busy railway station (c) our classroom (d) making 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) the school library (b) a cricket match (c) the old banyan tree (d) a day at the beach
20. 20.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
21. 21.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. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
22. 22.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 peacock (b) flying kites (c) saving water (d) grandma's garden
23. 23.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 night sky (b) my best friend (c) a cricket match (d) a visit to an old fort
24. 24.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) saving water (c) the rainy season (d) my new bicycle
25. 25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) We must not waste water. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
27. 27.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
28. 28.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
29. 29.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
30. 30.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
31. 31.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) our postman (c) elephants (d) a day at the beach
32. 32.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) our school sports day (b) a cricket match (c) the rainy season (d) eating healthy food
33. 33.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
35. 35.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
36. 36.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
38. 38.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
39. 39.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
40. 40.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.

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