Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 779 · 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?
   
   ___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
2. 2.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) eating healthy food (b) my grandfather (c) our classroom (d) the peacock
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) eating healthy food (b) my best friend (c) the village fair (d) the old banyan tree
4. 4.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
5. 5.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 rainy season (b) eating healthy food (c) our pet cat (d) making a rangoli
6. 6.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
7. 7.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. The postman knows every house on our street. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
8. 8.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) saving water (b) the school library (c) the peacock (d) the rainy season
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
10. 10.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
11. 11.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
13. 13.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 night sky (b) flying kites (c) ants (d) a day at the beach
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) flying kites (b) my new bicycle (c) the peacock (d) saving water
15. 15.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) eating healthy food (b) our postman (c) flying kites (d) grandma's garden
16. 16.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) saving water (c) the school library (d) a busy railway station
17. 17.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) a busy railway station (b) a day at the beach (c) our school sports day (d) the school library
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) our pet cat (b) the peacock (c) our school sports day (d) saving water
19. 19.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
20. 20.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) grandma's garden (c) the school library (d) our trip to the zoo
21. 21.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
22. 22.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
23. 23.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) the old banyan tree (b) the vegetable market (c) a visit to an old fort (d) a cricket match
24. 24.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) eating healthy food (b) the peacock (c) my grandfather (d) ants
25. 25.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
26. 26.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
28. 28.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
29. 29.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) We must not waste water.
32. 32.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 day at the beach (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the night sky (d) our school sports day
33. 33.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. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
34. 34.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) our postman (b) the night sky (c) my best friend (d) our pet cat
35. 35.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) a day at the beach (b) the school library (c) a busy railway station (d) my grandfather
36. 36.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
37. 37.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
39. 39.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) my grandfather (b) my best friend (c) our trip to the zoo (d) my new bicycle
40. 40.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.

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