Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 756 · 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) the school library (b) the night sky (c) elephants (d) our postman
2. 2.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) grandma's garden (b) our classroom (c) saving water (d) making a rangoli
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
4. 4.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) elephants (b) grandma's garden (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the rainy season
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) our school sports day (c) a cricket match (d) our trip to the zoo
6. 6.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) flying kites (b) the old banyan tree (c) my best friend (d) our pet cat
7. 7.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) my grandfather (b) my best friend (c) the peacock (d) the village fair
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
9. 9.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 walk one behind the other in a line. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
10. 10.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
11. 11.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
13. 13.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) We must not waste water. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
14. 14.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
15. 15.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
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. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) We must not waste water. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
17. 17.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 visit to an old fort (b) the peacock (c) our school sports day (d) a day at the beach
18. 18.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) a visit to an old fort (b) my new bicycle (c) the old banyan tree (d) our pet cat
19. 19.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) my new bicycle (c) our trip to the zoo (d) ants
20. 20.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
21. 21.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
22. 22.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) our trip to the zoo (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
23. 23.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
24. 24.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) our trip to the zoo (b) elephants (c) the village fair (d) a day at the beach
25. 25.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. The postman knows every house on our street. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
28. 28.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) the school library (b) a day at the beach (c) the rainy season (d) a busy railway station
29. 29.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
30. 30.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 night sky (b) our school sports day (c) the school library (d) the peacock
31. 31.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. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
32. 32.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 have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
33. 33.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
34. 34.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) grandma's garden (b) ants (c) the rainy season (d) eating healthy food
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
36. 36.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
37. 37.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
38. 38.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 have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
39. 39.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 cricket match (b) saving water (c) flying kites (d) grandma's garden
40. 40.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) our pet cat (b) the peacock (c) a cricket match (d) flying kites

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