Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 821 · 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?
   
   ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
2. 2.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) ants (c) my best friend (d) the old banyan tree
3. 3.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
4. 4.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 day at the beach (b) our postman (c) making a rangoli (d) a visit to an old fort
5. 5.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
6. 6.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) the school library (c) ants (d) our pet cat
7. 7.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) my new bicycle (b) the vegetable market (c) elephants (d) my grandfather
8. 8.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
9. 9.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
10. 10.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
11. 11.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. We may borrow two books every week. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
12. 12.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We must not waste water.
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) my grandfather (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the rainy season (d) a day at the beach
14. 14.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) a cricket match (b) our school sports day (c) the peacock (d) our trip to the zoo
15. 15.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
16. 16.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
17. 17.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) my grandfather (b) the vegetable market (c) a cricket match (d) grandma's garden
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
19. 19.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) the old banyan tree (b) elephants (c) eating healthy food (d) our pet cat
20. 20.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
21. 21.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) my best friend (b) the village fair (c) the school library (d) the rainy season
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We must not waste water.
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) The railway station is always busy. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
24. 24.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
25. 25.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
26. 26.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) our school sports day (c) my best friend (d) the school library
27. 27.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) saving water (b) our postman (c) elephants (d) the vegetable market
28. 28.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 old banyan tree (b) grandma's garden (c) flying kites (d) making a rangoli
29. 29.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) saving water (b) a day at the beach (c) the peacock (d) my new bicycle
30. 30.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
31. 31.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
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) saving water (b) our classroom (c) elephants (d) the village fair
33. 33.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) my grandfather (c) flying kites (d) our trip to the zoo
34. 34.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The railway station is always busy.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
36. 36.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
38. 38.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
39. 39.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
40. 40.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. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.

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