Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 887 · 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?
   
   ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
2. 2.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. We collected shells near the shore. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
4. 4.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) my new bicycle (b) our school sports day (c) our postman (d) the night sky
5. 5.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) the village fair (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our pet cat
6. 6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
7. 7.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) a visit to an old fort (c) elephants (d) our school sports day
8. 8.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) our postman (b) a day at the beach (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
9. 9.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) We must not waste water. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
11. 11.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. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
12. 12.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We must not waste water.
13. 13.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
14. 14.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) our classroom (b) our trip to the zoo (c) grandma's garden (d) flying kites
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
16. 16.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) my new bicycle (b) making a rangoli (c) flying kites (d) the old banyan tree
17. 17.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
18. 18.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) We must not waste water. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
19. 19.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) our classroom (b) my best friend (c) a day at the beach (d) the rainy season
20. 20.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) eating healthy food (b) elephants (c) our classroom (d) a busy railway station
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
22. 22.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) our trip to the zoo (b) flying kites (c) ants (d) saving water
23. 23.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The railway station is always busy.
24. 24.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
25. 25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
26. 26.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 sports day was full of fun. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The railway station is always busy.
27. 27.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
29. 29.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
31. 31.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) ants (b) grandma's garden (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the night sky
32. 32.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) our school sports day (b) the peacock (c) the old banyan tree (d) the vegetable market
33. 33.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
34. 34.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 peacock (b) the rainy season (c) the village fair (d) my grandfather
35. 35.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
37. 37.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
38. 38.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
39. 39.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) a visit to an old fort (b) my new bicycle (c) our classroom (d) our postman
40. 40.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) flying kites (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the vegetable market

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