Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 807 · 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?
   
   ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
2. 2.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
3. 3.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) a visit to an old fort (b) the vegetable market (c) a day at the beach (d) our postman
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) our trip to the zoo (b) our school sports day (c) grandma's garden (d) a visit to an old fort
5. 5.What is this paragraph mostly about?
   
   The vegetable market near our house opens early. Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) my grandfather (b) a busy railway station (c) the vegetable market (d) grandma's garden
6. 6.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
7. 7.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 cricket match (b) the school library (c) saving water (d) our postman
8. 8.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
9. 9.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
10. 10.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) saving water (b) my grandfather (c) my new bicycle (d) elephants
11. 11.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) our school sports day (b) a day at the beach (c) my new bicycle (d) the night sky
12. 12.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 rainy season (b) my grandfather (c) saving water (d) our classroom
13. 13.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
14. 14.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
16. 16.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 vegetable market (b) a day at the beach (c) my best friend (d) our school sports day
17. 17.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
19. 19.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) flying kites (b) elephants (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the old banyan tree
20. 20.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) grandma's garden (b) my grandfather (c) my best friend (d) the night sky
21. 21.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We must not waste water.
22. 22.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. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
23. 23.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) flying kites (b) ants (c) a day at the beach (d) our postman
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
25. 25.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) elephants (b) our pet cat (c) the village fair (d) the school library
26. 26.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) grandma's garden (b) elephants (c) my grandfather (d) ants
27. 27.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
28. 28.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
29. 29.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
31. 31.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The railway station is always busy.
32. 32.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
33. 33.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
34. 34.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The day began with a march past. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
36. 36.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 day at the beach (b) a busy railway station (c) a cricket match (d) our classroom
37. 37.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
38. 38.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) my best friend (b) our pet cat (c) the vegetable market (d) the night sky
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) elephants (b) flying kites (c) eating healthy food (d) the village fair
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.

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