Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 893 · 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 reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
2. 2.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) the night sky (c) making a rangoli (d) the peacock
3. 3.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
4. 4.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
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) our pet cat (b) the rainy season (c) my best friend (d) my new bicycle
6. 6.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) the peacock (d) a visit to an old fort
7. 7.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) our pet cat (b) saving water (c) the rainy season (d) the night sky
8. 8.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) grandma's garden (b) a busy railway station (c) our school sports day (d) my grandfather
9. 9.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
10. 10.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
11. 11.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 rainy season (b) a day at the beach (c) a busy railway station (d) the village fair
12. 12.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
13. 13.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
14. 14.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
15. 15.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
16. 16.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) a day at the beach (b) ants (c) eating healthy food (d) the village fair
17. 17.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 old banyan tree (b) our trip to the zoo (c) eating healthy food (d) the vegetable market
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
19. 19.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) our school sports day (c) flying kites (d) elephants
20. 20.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) the rainy season (b) our postman (c) ants (d) a cricket match
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) our pet cat (c) our classroom (d) elephants
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
23. 23.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
24. 24.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
25. 25.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) ants (b) our classroom (c) making a rangoli (d) eating healthy food
26. 26.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) flying kites (b) a busy railway station (c) my best friend (d) my new bicycle
27. 27.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) a visit to an old fort (b) our classroom (c) the night sky (d) the village fair
28. 28.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The railway station is always busy.
29. 29.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
30. 30.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) ants (b) eating healthy food (c) the old banyan tree (d) a day at the beach
31. 31.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
32. 32.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) flying kites (b) our postman (c) making a rangoli (d) a busy railway station
33. 33.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
34. 34.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) our pet cat (b) our school sports day (c) my grandfather (d) elephants
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. An elephant picks up food with its trunk. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
36. 36.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
37. 37.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
39. 39.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) elephants (b) our classroom (c) the school library (d) my new bicycle
40. 40.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) We must not waste water. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.

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