Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 955 · 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?
   
   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) our classroom (c) making a rangoli (d) my best friend
2. 2.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
3. 3.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
5. 5.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) my best friend (b) eating healthy food (c) our pet cat (d) the peacock
6. 6.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) our pet cat (b) flying kites (c) the vegetable market (d) a visit to an old fort
7. 7.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
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. A magician does tricks for the children. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We must not waste water. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
9. 9.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 village fair (b) grandma's garden (c) a cricket match (d) the rainy season
10. 10.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
11. 11.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) a day at the beach (b) the village fair (c) flying kites (d) my best friend
12. 12.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 vegetable market (b) elephants (c) the peacock (d) my best friend
13. 13.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
14. 14.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) our postman (b) a day at the beach (c) saving water (d) the vegetable market
15. 15.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 grandfather (b) making a rangoli (c) our postman (d) a busy railway station
16. 16.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) a busy railway station (b) my best friend (c) our postman (d) ants
17. 17.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) making a rangoli (b) a cricket match (c) a busy railway station (d) our pet cat
18. 18.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) our postman (c) a visit to an old fort (d) my new bicycle
19. 19.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
20. 20.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) the vegetable market (c) the night sky (d) a cricket match
21. 21.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
22. 22.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 school sports day (b) my grandfather (c) a day at the beach (d) the rainy season
23. 23.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
24. 24.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
25. 25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The railway station is always busy.
26. 26.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
27. 27.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) the old banyan tree (b) our postman (c) our pet cat (d) grandma's garden
28. 28.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
29. 29.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
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) our trip to the zoo (b) elephants (c) a day at the beach (d) our classroom
31. 31.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) making a rangoli (c) our classroom (d) my grandfather
32. 32.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) a visit to an old fort (b) grandma's garden (c) the school library (d) our trip to the zoo
33. 33.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. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) We must not waste water. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
34. 34.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The railway station is always busy.
35. 35.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
36. 36.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
37. 37.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
38. 38.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
39. 39.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 school library is my favourite place. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.

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