Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 986 · 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?
   
   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) a busy railway station (c) grandma's garden (d) the vegetable market
2. 2.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
3. 3.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
4. 4.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 visit to an old fort (b) making a rangoli (c) saving water (d) a cricket match
5. 5.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
6. 6.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
7. 7.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) our postman (c) the vegetable market (d) the peacock
8. 8.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) elephants (b) the night sky (c) flying kites (d) my best friend
9. 9.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 peacock (b) the old banyan tree (c) grandma's garden (d) a day at the beach
10. 10.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. 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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
11. 11.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
12. 12.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) the old banyan tree (b) saving water (c) elephants (d) a day at the beach
13. 13.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
15. 15.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
16. 16.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
17. 17.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) a busy railway station (c) the peacock (d) our trip to the zoo
18. 18.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
19. 19.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
20. 20.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) our classroom (b) making a rangoli (c) the village fair (d) the peacock
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. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
22. 22.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
23. 23.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
24. 24.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
25. 25.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) elephants (b) flying kites (c) eating healthy food (d) our school sports day
26. 26.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 walk one behind the other in a line. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
27. 27.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) our trip to the zoo (b) eating healthy food (c) a busy railway station (d) making a rangoli
28. 28.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) We must not waste water. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The railway station is always busy.
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
30. 30.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
31. 31.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
32. 32.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
33. 33.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) the school library (b) our school sports day (c) the vegetable market (d) my new bicycle
34. 34.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
35. 35.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) my grandfather (b) a day at the beach (c) making a rangoli (d) a cricket match
36. 36.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The railway station is always busy.
37. 37.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
38. 38.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
39. 39.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
40. 40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My best friend is Farhan.

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