Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 762 · 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?
   
   ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The railway station is always busy.
2. 2.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) the old banyan tree (b) our pet cat (c) grandma's garden (d) the night sky
3. 3.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) the rainy season (b) eating healthy food (c) a day at the beach (d) a busy railway station
4. 4.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
5. 5.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) eating healthy food (c) a busy railway station (d) ants
6. 6.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) saving water (b) the night sky (c) making a rangoli (d) elephants
7. 7.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
8. 8.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 visit to an old fort (b) a busy railway station (c) the vegetable market (d) the rainy season
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) We must not waste water. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
10. 10.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 village fair (b) our classroom (c) eating healthy food (d) our postman
11. 11.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 pet cat (c) ants (d) the night sky
12. 12.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
13. 13.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
14. 14.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
15. 15.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
16. 16.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) grandma's garden (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the rainy season
17. 17.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
18. 18.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
19. 19.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. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
20. 20.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) the old banyan tree (b) eating healthy food (c) our school sports day (d) my best friend
21. 21.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) We must not waste water.
22. 22.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) elephants (b) the school library (c) my best friend (d) ants
23. 23.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. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The railway station is always busy.
24. 24.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. A magician does tricks for the children. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
25. 25.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) flying kites (b) my new bicycle (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the rainy season
26. 26.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
27. 27.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
28. 28.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 classroom (c) grandma's garden (d) the rainy season
29. 29.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
30. 30.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The railway station is always busy.
31. 31.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) the school library (b) the vegetable market (c) our postman (d) our pet cat
32. 32.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 day at the beach (b) a cricket match (c) saving water (d) my grandfather
33. 33.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 night sky (b) my best friend (c) elephants (d) a visit to an old fort
34. 34.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. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
37. 37.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) the vegetable market (b) my best friend (c) the peacock (d) flying kites
38. 38.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The railway station is always busy.

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