Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 103 · 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?
   
   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) making a rangoli (b) grandma's garden (c) my new bicycle (d) the school library
2. 2.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
3. 3.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. The librarian helps us find good books. We may borrow two books every week. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
4. 4.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 railway station is always busy. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
5. 5.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 peacock (c) a cricket match (d) my grandfather
6. 6.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 village fair (c) our school sports day (d) the old banyan tree
7. 7.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) grandma's garden (b) a busy railway station (c) flying kites (d) a day at the beach
8. 8.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
9. 9.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) grandma's garden (b) making a rangoli (c) the rainy season (d) the school library
10. 10.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 night sky (b) the village fair (c) the old banyan tree (d) the school library
11. 11.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
12. 12.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
13. 13.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) The railway station is always busy.
14. 14.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) the vegetable market (b) the night sky (c) elephants (d) our classroom
15. 15.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
16. 16.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 old banyan tree (b) my new bicycle (c) grandma's garden (d) the vegetable market
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
18. 18.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
19. 19.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
21. 21.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
23. 23.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
24. 24.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) the night sky (b) making a rangoli (c) the school library (d) our pet cat
25. 25.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
26. 26.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 rainy season (c) the school library (d) my best friend
27. 27.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 rainy season (b) elephants (c) a day at the beach (d) the school library
28. 28.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
29. 29.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 school sports day (b) a busy railway station (c) my new bicycle (d) our pet cat
30. 30.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
31. 31.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) a cricket match (b) my grandfather (c) our pet cat (d) a day at the beach
32. 32.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) the night sky (b) my best friend (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the school library
33. 33.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. She sleeps in a basket near the window. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
34. 34.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ 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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
36. 36.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
37. 37.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
38. 38.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
39. 39.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
40. 40.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.

Free writing skills lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/english-writing-skills