Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 746 · 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?
   
   ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
2. 2.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The railway station is always busy.
3. 3.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) flying kites (b) ants (c) my best friend (d) the rainy season
4. 4.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) my grandfather (b) eating healthy food (c) our postman (d) grandma's garden
5. 5.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) our postman (b) eating healthy food (c) my best friend (d) a visit to an old fort
6. 6.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
7. 7.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
8. 8.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) our trip to the zoo (b) eating healthy food (c) the night sky (d) our classroom
9. 9.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 trip to the zoo (b) ants (c) our classroom (d) the rainy season
10. 10.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
11. 11.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) flying kites (b) the school library (c) the peacock (d) elephants
12. 12.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
13. 13.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) a busy railway station (b) the old banyan tree (c) our school sports day (d) the peacock
14. 14.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 classroom (c) the school library (d) the rainy season
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) the peacock (b) our pet cat (c) ants (d) our trip to the zoo
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
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) my new bicycle (b) a visit to an old fort (c) our classroom (d) the old banyan tree
18. 18.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) a cricket match (b) making a rangoli (c) flying kites (d) saving water
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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 is Farhan. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
20. 20.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
21. 21.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. We may borrow two books every week. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
22. 22.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
23. 23.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
25. 25.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
26. 26.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) a busy railway station (b) ants (c) the night sky (d) the school library
27. 27.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
28. 28.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
29. 29.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
30. 30.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 night sky (b) my best friend (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
31. 31.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
32. 32.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
33. 33.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
34. 34.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
35. 35.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
36. 36.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
37. 37.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) my grandfather (b) a day at the beach (c) the school library (d) the old banyan tree
38. 38.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
39. 39.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) grandma's garden (b) our school sports day (c) our pet cat (d) eating healthy food
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.

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