Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 869 · 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?
   
   ___ Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
2. 2.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
3. 3.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 classroom (b) a cricket match (c) ants (d) making a rangoli
4. 4.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
6. 6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
7. 7.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
8. 8.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
9. 9.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) my best friend (c) the peacock (d) a busy railway station
10. 10.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) We must not waste water. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
11. 11.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 classroom (b) flying kites (c) elephants (d) a visit to an old fort
12. 12.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) the school library (b) saving water (c) the rainy season (d) grandma's garden
13. 13.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) the old banyan tree (b) grandma's garden (c) flying kites (d) my new bicycle
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
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. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
16. 16.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
17. 17.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) my best friend (b) ants (c) the rainy season (d) the school library
18. 18.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
19. 19.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
21. 21.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
22. 22.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 vegetable market (b) our classroom (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our pet cat
23. 23.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 library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) We must not waste water.
24. 24.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) our classroom (c) our postman (d) the old banyan tree
25. 25.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
26. 26.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 vegetable market (b) our classroom (c) flying kites (d) making a rangoli
27. 27.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We must not waste water. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
28. 28.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
29. 29.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
30. 30.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) saving water (b) the rainy season (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the village fair
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
32. 32.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) making a rangoli (b) our classroom (c) my grandfather (d) our school sports day
33. 33.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 grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
34. 34.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 day at the beach (b) saving water (c) a cricket match (d) grandma's garden
35. 35.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The railway station is always busy.
36. 36.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
37. 37.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) my new bicycle (b) eating healthy food (c) flying kites (d) our pet cat
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) ants (b) a visit to an old fort (c) our school sports day (d) elephants
39. 39.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. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.

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