Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 957 · 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?
   
   ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
2. 2.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
3. 3.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. The winners got shiny medals. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
4. 4.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. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
5. 5.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
6. 6.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) my grandfather (b) our pet cat (c) a busy railway station (d) our trip to the zoo
7. 7.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
8. 8.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
9. 9.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 must not waste water. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
10. 10.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) making a rangoli (b) flying kites (c) saving water (d) our trip to the zoo
11. 11.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 old banyan tree (b) saving water (c) our school sports day (d) the village fair
12. 12.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. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
13. 13.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
14. 14.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
15. 15.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 visit to an old fort (b) a busy railway station (c) grandma's garden (d) our pet cat
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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
17. 17.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 postman (b) my new bicycle (c) saving water (d) our school sports day
18. 18.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. Farhan and I play football after school. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We must not waste water.
21. 21.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 postman (b) a day at the beach (c) flying kites (d) the peacock
22. 22.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 village fair (b) our postman (c) a busy railway station (d) elephants
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
24. 24.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
25. 25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
26. 26.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
27. 27.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) We must not waste water. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
28. 28.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) flying kites (c) making a rangoli (d) the village fair
29. 29.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) our trip to the zoo (b) saving water (c) eating healthy food (d) a visit to an old fort
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
31. 31.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 school sports day (b) our pet cat (c) the vegetable market (d) ants
32. 32.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 trip to the zoo (b) the vegetable market (c) my grandfather (d) elephants
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa tells us stories of his childhood. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
34. 34.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
35. 35.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 busy railway station (b) a day at the beach (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the night sky
36. 36.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
37. 37.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) making a rangoli (b) the rainy season (c) flying kites (d) a busy railway station
38. 38.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 rainy season (b) saving water (c) my new bicycle (d) a cricket match
39. 39.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 best friend is Farhan. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
40. 40.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 pet cat (b) our school sports day (c) my grandfather (d) elephants

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