Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 979 · 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?
   
   ___ Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
2. 2.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
3. 3.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) the night sky (c) ants (d) my grandfather
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) grandma's garden (b) the old banyan tree (c) the village fair (d) saving water
5. 5.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) saving water (c) my grandfather (d) flying kites
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) the village fair (b) the rainy season (c) our pet cat (d) our trip to the zoo
7. 7.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) flying kites (b) the village fair (c) the night sky (d) a visit to an old fort
8. 8.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
9. 9.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We must not waste water.
10. 10.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 trip to the zoo (b) the vegetable market (c) flying kites (d) a cricket match
11. 11.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) We must not waste water. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
12. 12.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
13. 13.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The railway station is always busy.
14. 14.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. We place small lamps around the design. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
16. 16.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
17. 17.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
18. 18.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
19. 19.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 day at the beach (b) our pet cat (c) flying kites (d) a cricket match
20. 20.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
21. 21.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
23. 23.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
24. 24.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) a visit to an old fort (b) saving water (c) ants (d) the school library
25. 25.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
26. 26.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
27. 27.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
29. 29.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
30. 30.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
31. 31.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
32. 32.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) my new bicycle (b) my grandfather (c) saving water (d) a busy railway station
33. 33.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 ride it to the park every evening. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
34. 34.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
35. 35.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 postman (b) the vegetable market (c) our school sports day (d) our trip to the zoo
36. 36.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
37. 37.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
38. 38.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) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
39. 39.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
40. 40.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.

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