Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 736 · 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?
   
   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) our school sports day (b) our trip to the zoo (c) elephants (d) eating healthy food
2. 2.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
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) ants (b) saving water (c) the school library (d) a busy railway station
4. 4.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
5. 5.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 night sky (b) our trip to the zoo (c) grandma's garden (d) the vegetable market
6. 6.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 old banyan tree (b) a busy railway station (c) a visit to an old fort (d) my grandfather
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. We place small lamps around the design. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
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) my grandfather (b) grandma's garden (c) our school sports day (d) my new bicycle
9. 9.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
10. 10.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
11. 11.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. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
12. 12.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
13. 13.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) elephants (b) my grandfather (c) a busy railway station (d) my best friend
14. 14.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
15. 15.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) making a rangoli (b) flying kites (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our school sports day
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) flying kites (b) the peacock (c) our postman (d) our pet cat
17. 17.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) We must not waste water. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
18. 18.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 rainy season (c) my new bicycle (d) the peacock
19. 19.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) the school library (b) our school sports day (c) making a rangoli (d) the night sky
20. 20.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
21. 21.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 new bicycle (b) the school library (c) the old banyan tree (d) the rainy season
22. 22.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The railway station is always busy.
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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
24. 24.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
25. 25.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) We must not waste water. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
26. 26.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 old banyan tree (b) the rainy season (c) a cricket match (d) the school library
27. 27.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 village fair (b) elephants (c) flying kites (d) ants
28. 28.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
29. 29.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the night sky (c) flying kites (d) a visit to an old fort
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
31. 31.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
32. 32.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
33. 33.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 vegetable market (b) the school library (c) eating healthy food (d) our classroom
34. 34.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) our trip to the zoo (b) a busy railway station (c) the old banyan tree (d) making a rangoli
35. 35.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) my best friend (c) eating healthy food (d) my grandfather
36. 36.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
37. 37.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
38. 38.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We must not waste water.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.

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