Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 897 · 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.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) grandma's garden (c) a day at the beach (d) flying kites
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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
3. 3.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 school sports day (b) grandma's garden (c) eating healthy food (d) our trip to the zoo
4. 4.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
5. 5.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
6. 6.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
7. 7.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 cricket match (b) our classroom (c) the night sky (d) our postman
8. 8.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) our trip to the zoo (b) making a rangoli (c) grandma's garden (d) our postman
9. 9.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) my best friend (b) a busy railway station (c) the rainy season (d) the vegetable market
10. 10.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) saving water (b) the night sky (c) the school library (d) the rainy season
11. 11.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
12. 12.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 school library (b) our classroom (c) our trip to the zoo (d) saving water
13. 13.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) We must not waste water. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We must not waste water. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
16. 16.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
17. 17.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
18. 18.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) the peacock (b) the school library (c) the night sky (d) saving water
19. 19.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) making a rangoli (c) ants (d) a cricket match
20. 20.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) the school library (c) the night sky (d) my best friend
21. 21.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
22. 22.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
25. 25.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
26. 26.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
27. 27.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
28. 28.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) eating healthy food (b) our pet cat (c) our trip to the zoo (d) my new bicycle
29. 29.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) a day at the beach (b) eating healthy food (c) grandma's garden (d) a busy railway station
30. 30.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) the old banyan tree (d) the peacock
31. 31.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) We must not waste water. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
32. 32.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
33. 33.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
34. 34.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
35. 35.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
38. 38.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) our classroom (b) the school library (c) the peacock (d) elephants
39. 39.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) my grandfather (b) our classroom (c) a day at the beach (d) our school sports day
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.

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