Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 856 · 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?
   
   ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The railway station is always busy.
2. 2.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) our pet cat (b) saving water (c) my grandfather (d) our classroom
3. 3.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
4. 4.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
5. 5.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. The postman knows every house on our street. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
6. 6.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
7. 7.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 busy railway station (b) elephants (c) the village fair (d) a cricket match
8. 8.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) a visit to an old fort (b) grandma's garden (c) a day at the beach (d) our pet cat
9. 9.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
10. 10.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
11. 11.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
13. 13.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
14. 14.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) the rainy season (b) saving water (c) my grandfather (d) ants
15. 15.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
16. 16.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) grandma's garden (b) flying kites (c) the night sky (d) elephants
17. 17.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 peacock (b) elephants (c) a day at the beach (d) a visit to an old fort
18. 18.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We must not waste water. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
19. 19.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
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. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
22. 22.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) eating healthy food (b) our school sports day (c) our classroom (d) the village fair
23. 23.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
24. 24.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) flying kites (c) the school library (d) a cricket match
25. 25.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) flying kites (b) eating healthy food (c) the night sky (d) the vegetable market
26. 26.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
27. 27.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
28. 28.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
29. 29.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) our postman (c) our pet cat (d) my new bicycle
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
31. 31.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
32. 32.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) eating healthy food (b) the old banyan tree (c) elephants (d) the village fair
33. 33.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 peacock (b) the rainy season (c) the school library (d) our school sports day
34. 34.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) my grandfather (b) a day at the beach (c) the old banyan tree (d) the school library
35. 35.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) flying kites (b) the vegetable market (c) the school library (d) a visit to an old fort
36. 36.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
37. 37.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 oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We must not waste water.
38. 38.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
39. 39.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
40. 40.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. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) We must not waste water. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.

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