Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 929 · 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?
   
   ___ Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
2. 2.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
3. 3.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
4. 4.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 classroom (b) saving water (c) the old banyan tree (d) the village fair
5. 5.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
6. 6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
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) my best friend (b) the school library (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our school sports day
8. 8.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. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
9. 9.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
10. 10.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) ants (d) eating healthy food
11. 11.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
12. 12.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
14. 14.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 school sports day (b) the rainy season (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the peacock
15. 15.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) elephants (b) a busy railway station (c) the old banyan tree (d) the vegetable market
16. 16.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The day began with a march past. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The railway station is always busy.
18. 18.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
19. 19.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
20. 20.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) making a rangoli (b) a cricket match (c) our postman (d) a visit to an old fort
21. 21.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
22. 22.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) a busy railway station (b) our postman (c) my new bicycle (d) making a rangoli
23. 23.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 old banyan tree (b) the school library (c) the vegetable market (d) the village fair
24. 24.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) the peacock (b) ants (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our school sports day
25. 25.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
26. 26.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
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) our pet cat (b) my best friend (c) saving water (d) the night sky
28. 28.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) ants (b) our trip to the zoo (c) a visit to an old fort (d) saving water
29. 29.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) flying kites (d) making a rangoli
30. 30.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
31. 31.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 visit to an old fort (b) a cricket match (c) saving water (d) the peacock
32. 32.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
34. 34.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My friend always shares his lunch with me. Farhan and I play football after school. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
36. 36.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) the school library (b) a day at the beach (c) my grandfather (d) grandma's garden
37. 37.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. We buy strong string for our kites. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
39. 39.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) my grandfather (b) flying kites (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the old banyan tree
40. 40.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.

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