Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 82 · 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?
   
   ___ An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
2. 2.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
3. 3.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) my new bicycle (b) our classroom (c) eating healthy food (d) a busy railway station
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ They have long trunks and big ears. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
6. 6.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) a day at the beach (b) the night sky (c) grandma's garden (d) my new bicycle
7. 7.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
8. 8.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 ride it to the park every evening. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
9. 9.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
10. 10.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
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) elephants (b) my new bicycle (c) my grandfather (d) the vegetable market
12. 12.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. Our house won the tug of war. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) We must not waste water.
13. 13.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
14. 14.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) our classroom (b) the vegetable market (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our postman
15. 15.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) the school library (b) the rainy season (c) our postman (d) ants
16. 16.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) the rainy season (b) grandma's garden (c) our postman (d) the school library
17. 17.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
18. 18.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
19. 19.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) making a rangoli (b) the village fair (c) the old banyan tree (d) my best friend
20. 20.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 grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
21. 21.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
22. 22.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
23. 23.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
25. 25.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) my new bicycle (d) the rainy season
26. 26.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) flying kites (b) the village fair (c) our pet cat (d) our postman
27. 27.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We must not waste water. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
28. 28.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) We must not waste water. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
29. 29.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 cricket match (b) saving water (c) grandma's garden (d) the school library
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
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. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The railway station is always busy.
32. 32.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The railway station is always busy.
33. 33.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) flying kites (b) our pet cat (c) a cricket match (d) eating healthy food
34. 34.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
35. 35.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
36. 36.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
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) a visit to an old fort (b) my new bicycle (c) the rainy season (d) our trip to the zoo
38. 38.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) a visit to an old fort (b) my grandfather (c) a busy railway station (d) our school sports day
39. 39.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the old banyan tree (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our pet cat
40. 40.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. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) My best friend is Farhan.

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