Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 724 · 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?
   
   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 school sports day (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the rainy season (d) the peacock
2. 2.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) the peacock (b) my best friend (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the rainy season
3. 3.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The railway station is always busy.
4. 4.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) our school sports day (b) the peacock (c) elephants (d) ants
5. 5.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) saving water (b) my new bicycle (c) the old banyan tree (d) ants
6. 6.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The railway station is always busy.
7. 7.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
8. 8.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. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
9. 9.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
10. 10.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
11. 11.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) a day at the beach (c) my best friend (d) saving water
12. 12.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) the school library (b) saving water (c) our classroom (d) the peacock
13. 13.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
14. 14.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
15. 15.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) a day at the beach (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the night sky (d) the village fair
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
17. 17.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 pet cat (b) the village fair (c) our school sports day (d) the night sky
18. 18.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) elephants (b) our postman (c) our pet cat (d) the old banyan tree
19. 19.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) flying kites (c) a day at the beach (d) our classroom
20. 20.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
21. 21.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) a day at the beach (c) eating healthy food (d) the vegetable market
22. 22.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 vegetable market (b) our trip to the zoo (c) a visit to an old fort (d) a cricket match
23. 23.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
24. 24.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) my best friend (b) our postman (c) the night sky (d) making a rangoli
25. 25.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) grandma's garden (b) the village fair (c) our pet cat (d) eating healthy food
26. 26.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
27. 27.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) a busy railway station (b) ants (c) the night sky (d) flying kites
28. 28.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) a visit to an old fort (b) my best friend (c) our school sports day (d) our trip to the zoo
29. 29.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) a visit to an old fort (c) saving water (d) the vegetable market
30. 30.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
31. 31.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The railway station is always busy.
32. 32.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) making a rangoli (d) the school library
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
34. 34.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
35. 35.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) My best friend is Farhan. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
37. 37.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
38. 38.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
39. 39.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
40. 40.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) flying kites (b) a visit to an old fort (c) my grandfather (d) grandma's garden

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