Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 989 · 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?
   
   ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The railway station is always busy.
2. 2.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The railway station is always busy.
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
4. 4.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) our classroom (b) the night sky (c) the peacock (d) our trip to the zoo
5. 5.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
6. 6.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 grandfather (b) the school library (c) grandma's garden (d) a busy railway station
7. 7.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
8. 8.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 sports day was full of fun. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
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 old banyan tree (b) our trip to the zoo (c) flying kites (d) our classroom
10. 10.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 trip to the zoo (b) our classroom (c) eating healthy food (d) the peacock
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has a long, bright blue neck. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
12. 12.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
13. 13.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) eating healthy food (b) the school library (c) a day at the beach (d) our trip to the zoo
14. 14.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) the school library (b) my grandfather (c) the village fair (d) our postman
15. 15.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
16. 16.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) grandma's garden (b) ants (c) our classroom (d) a busy railway station
17. 17.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
18. 18.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
19. 19.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 classroom (b) the school library (c) the village fair (d) my new bicycle
20. 20.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
21. 21.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) the village fair (b) a day at the beach (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our postman
22. 22.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 village fair (c) saving water (d) a visit to an old fort
23. 23.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
24. 24.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
25. 25.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
26. 26.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
27. 27.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
28. 28.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 pet cat (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our school sports day (d) ants
29. 29.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) a day at the beach (b) the peacock (c) making a rangoli (d) our postman
30. 30.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
31. 31.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 peacock (b) a busy railway station (c) my best friend (d) elephants
32. 32.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
33. 33.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) a busy railway station (c) the school library (d) saving water
34. 34.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 peacock (b) a visit to an old fort (c) ants (d) the village fair
35. 35.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) our trip to the zoo (c) my grandfather (d) my best friend
36. 36.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
37. 37.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
38. 38.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) our school sports day (b) my best friend (c) our postman (d) the night sky
39. 39.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) We must not waste water. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
40. 40.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) making a rangoli (b) a busy railway station (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the school library

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