Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 99 · 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?
   
   ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. Shoppers pick the best onions and potatoes. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
2. 2.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 vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
3. 3.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) We must not waste water. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
4. 4.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) saving water (b) our pet cat (c) my new bicycle (d) flying kites
5. 5.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 old banyan tree (b) the village fair (c) my best friend (d) our classroom
6. 6.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
7. 7.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) making a rangoli (b) grandma's garden (c) the vegetable market (d) my grandfather
8. 8.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The railway station is always busy.
9. 9.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 night sky (b) grandma's garden (c) our pet cat (d) a visit to an old fort
10. 10.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
11. 11.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
12. 12.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) flying kites (b) my grandfather (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a cricket match
13. 13.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
14. 14.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) our classroom (b) the rainy season (c) our pet cat (d) making a rangoli
15. 15.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
16. 16.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
17. 17.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. We buy strong string for our kites. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
18. 18.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) a busy railway station (b) saving water (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the school library
19. 19.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) the vegetable market (b) grandma's garden (c) a visit to an old fort (d) making a rangoli
20. 20.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) elephants (b) a cricket match (c) the village fair (d) a day at the beach
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
22. 22.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) We must not waste water.
23. 23.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) the night sky (b) a busy railway station (c) making a rangoli (d) elephants
24. 24.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
25. 25.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They have long trunks and big ears. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
27. 27.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
28. 28.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) We must not waste water. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
29. 29.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 busy railway station (b) the rainy season (c) the night sky (d) my grandfather
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
31. 31.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
32. 32.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
33. 33.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) saving water (b) our trip to the zoo (c) our school sports day (d) our postman
34. 34.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) my new bicycle (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
35. 35.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    My grandmother has a lovely garden. Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) my new bicycle (b) grandma's garden (c) the rainy season (d) our classroom
36. 36.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) making a rangoli (b) saving water (c) grandma's garden (d) our pet cat
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) We must not waste water. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
38. 38.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. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
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. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
40. 40.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.

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