Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 733 · 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?
   
   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) my best friend (b) a cricket match (c) my grandfather (d) making a rangoli
2. 2.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) ants (b) the village fair (c) my new bicycle (d) saving water
3. 3.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 peacock (b) saving water (c) our pet cat (d) flying kites
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) making a rangoli (b) our trip to the zoo (c) ants (d) the school library
5. 5.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) eating healthy food (b) our school sports day (c) a cricket match (d) my grandfather
6. 6.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
7. 7.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
9. 9.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
10. 10.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
11. 11.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
12. 12.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 school sports day (c) the vegetable market (d) the village fair
13. 13.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 new bicycle (b) the night sky (c) our school sports day (d) grandma's garden
14. 14.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
16. 16.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
17. 17.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
18. 18.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
19. 19.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 trip to the zoo (c) the peacock (d) a busy railway station
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
21. 21.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
23. 23.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) a day at the beach (b) a cricket match (c) grandma's garden (d) eating healthy food
24. 24.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) my new bicycle (c) our postman (d) our pet cat
25. 25.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
26. 26.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The railway station is always busy.
27. 27.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
28. 28.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) our trip to the zoo (b) a visit to an old fort (c) a cricket match (d) the night sky
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 oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (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?
    
    ___ 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) We must not waste water. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
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) the rainy season (b) making a rangoli (c) elephants (d) flying kites
33. 33.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) We must not waste water. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
34. 34.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. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
36. 36.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
38. 38.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) making a rangoli (c) flying kites (d) my new bicycle
39. 39.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. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
40. 40.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.

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