Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 984 · 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?
   
   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) my grandfather (b) our classroom (c) the night sky (d) our pet cat
2. 2.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. (a) We must not waste water. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
3. 3.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) our pet cat (c) our classroom (d) a busy railway station
4. 4.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) eating healthy food (c) our school sports day (d) ants
5. 5.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. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
6. 6.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 classroom (b) the school library (c) making a rangoli (d) the old banyan tree
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) our trip to the zoo (b) the old banyan tree (c) the school library (d) a day at the beach
8. 8.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
9. 9.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) eating healthy food (b) my best friend (c) the vegetable market (d) the village fair
10. 10.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) a visit to an old fort (b) a day at the beach (c) the village fair (d) elephants
11. 11.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) saving water (b) the old banyan tree (c) the rainy season (d) our classroom
12. 12.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 must not waste water. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
13. 13.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) making a rangoli (b) our pet cat (c) flying kites (d) the vegetable market
14. 14.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
15. 15.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) flying kites (b) ants (c) the school library (d) the peacock
16. 16.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) ants (c) the village fair (d) flying kites
17. 17.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 rainy season (b) a busy railway station (c) the old banyan tree (d) a visit to an old fort
18. 18.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) eating healthy food (b) our trip to the zoo (c) saving water (d) the village fair
19. 19.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
20. 20.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
21. 21.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
22. 22.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
23. 23.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
24. 24.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) We must not waste water. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
25. 25.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) making a rangoli (b) our trip to the zoo (c) saving water (d) the school library
26. 26.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) our trip to the zoo (c) the peacock (d) making a rangoli
27. 27.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) a busy railway station (b) our postman (c) my grandfather (d) saving water
28. 28.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
29. 29.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
30. 30.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
31. 31.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
32. 32.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The railway station is always busy.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
34. 34.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 school sports day (b) flying kites (c) a busy railway station (d) the school library
35. 35.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
36. 36.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
37. 37.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The railway station is always busy.
39. 39.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.

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