Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 812 · 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?
   
   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) making a rangoli (b) grandma's garden (c) our postman (d) our school sports day
2. 2.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
3. 3.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) my best friend (d) our trip to the zoo
4. 4.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) saving water (b) the school library (c) making a rangoli (d) our pet cat
5. 5.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
6. 6.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
7. 7.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. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
8. 8.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 pet cat (c) eating healthy food (d) the school library
9. 9.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) eating healthy food (b) grandma's garden (c) the vegetable market (d) the school library
10. 10.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) a visit to an old fort (b) our pet cat (c) grandma's garden (d) our classroom
11. 11.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) our pet cat (b) the vegetable market (c) our classroom (d) grandma's garden
12. 12.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
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) the peacock (b) the village fair (c) a busy railway station (d) elephants
14. 14.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (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?
    
    ___ 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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
16. 16.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
17. 17.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) making a rangoli (b) a visit to an old fort (c) the night sky (d) the old banyan tree
18. 18.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) our postman (b) my best friend (c) a day at the beach (d) a cricket match
19. 19.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We must not waste water. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
20. 20.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
21. 21.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
22. 22.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. Farhan and I play football after school. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
24. 24.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
25. 25.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
26. 26.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The railway station is always busy.
27. 27.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) We must not waste water. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
29. 29.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
30. 30.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) the school library (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the vegetable market (d) my grandfather
31. 31.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
32. 32.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. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
33. 33.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
34. 34.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) the peacock (d) a visit to an old fort
35. 35.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) saving water (b) the village fair (c) my grandfather (d) a day at the beach
36. 36.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) my best friend (b) saving water (c) grandma's garden (d) my grandfather
37. 37.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) a day at the beach (c) elephants (d) a cricket match
38. 38.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
39. 39.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) ants (b) the old banyan tree (c) saving water (d) a cricket match
40. 40.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) making a rangoli (b) grandma's garden (c) the vegetable market (d) our postman

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