Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 84 · 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 seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
2. 2.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
3. 3.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
4. 4.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) the night sky (b) the vegetable market (c) my new bicycle (d) eating healthy food
5. 5.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) the village fair (b) our trip to the zoo (c) my best friend (d) my new bicycle
6. 6.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
7. 7.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) our trip to the zoo (b) eating healthy food (c) the night sky (d) my grandfather
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
9. 9.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. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
10. 10.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
11. 11.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 classroom (b) my best friend (c) grandma's garden (d) my new bicycle
12. 12.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
13. 13.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We must not waste water. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
14. 14.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) our pet cat (b) the old banyan tree (c) a visit to an old fort (d) my grandfather
15. 15.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
16. 16.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) a cricket match (b) saving water (c) my grandfather (d) our school sports day
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
18. 18.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 village fair (b) our pet cat (c) making a rangoli (d) a day at the beach
19. 19.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) making a rangoli (b) elephants (c) flying kites (d) a cricket match
20. 20.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
21. 21.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) our trip to the zoo (b) making a rangoli (c) a cricket match (d) elephants
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. The postman knows every house on our street. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
24. 24.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
25. 25.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) the village fair (c) grandma's garden (d) the night sky
26. 26.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) the night sky (b) the peacock (c) the rainy season (d) making a rangoli
27. 27.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
28. 28.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
29. 29.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
30. 30.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) my best friend (b) the night sky (c) a cricket match (d) the peacock
31. 31.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 school sports day (b) flying kites (c) the old banyan tree (d) the night sky
32. 32.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (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.
33. 33.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
34. 34.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) our school sports day (b) a day at the beach (c) making a rangoli (d) our pet cat
35. 35.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) the old banyan tree (b) our classroom (c) our postman (d) a busy railway station
37. 37.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 library is my favourite place. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
38. 38.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The railway station is always busy.
39. 39.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
40. 40.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.

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