Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 941 · 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?
   
   ___ Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
2. 2.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) a visit to an old fort (c) our postman (d) the village fair
3. 3.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
4. 4.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
5. 5.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
6. 6.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) flying kites (c) my grandfather (d) a day at the beach
7. 7.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
8. 8.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
9. 9.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) grandma's garden (b) the rainy season (c) eating healthy food (d) the peacock
10. 10.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) flying kites (b) a cricket match (c) making a rangoli (d) eating healthy food
11. 11.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
12. 12.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) We must not waste water. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
13. 13.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 trip to the zoo (b) making a rangoli (c) the old banyan tree (d) our classroom
14. 14.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) our postman (b) making a rangoli (c) my grandfather (d) elephants
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
17. 17.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
19. 19.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) our classroom (b) our school sports day (c) the night sky (d) the vegetable market
20. 20.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
21. 21.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
22. 22.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 peacock (b) elephants (c) flying kites (d) the school library
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
24. 24.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) the school library (b) flying kites (c) my best friend (d) ants
25. 25.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
26. 26.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
27. 27.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We must not waste water.
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. The librarian helps us find good books. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (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?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
30. 30.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) my best friend (b) the village fair (c) grandma's garden (d) a visit to an old fort
31. 31.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) making a rangoli (b) the village fair (c) our postman (d) eating healthy food
32. 32.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) saving water (b) a day at the beach (c) our pet cat (d) eating healthy food
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
34. 34.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
36. 36.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
37. 37.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
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) We must not waste water. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. The librarian helps us find good books. We may borrow two books every week. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
40. 40.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) a busy railway station (c) our classroom (d) the village fair

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