Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 17 · 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?
   
   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) our pet cat (b) our school sports day (c) grandma's garden (d) my grandfather
2. 2.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
3. 3.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) my new bicycle (c) the rainy season (d) eating healthy food
4. 4.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) our pet cat (b) a busy railway station (c) a visit to an old fort (d) saving water
5. 5.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 cricket match (b) elephants (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the school library
6. 6.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
7. 7.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) our postman (c) my best friend (d) the old banyan tree
8. 8.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) We must not waste water. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
9. 9.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
10. 10.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
12. 12.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) elephants (b) our pet cat (c) grandma's garden (d) a day at the beach
13. 13.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) grandma's garden (b) the night sky (c) making a rangoli (d) my new bicycle
14. 14.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) the village fair (d) a busy railway station
15. 15.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) a cricket match (c) elephants (d) our school sports day
16. 16.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) a visit to an old fort (b) flying kites (c) our postman (d) elephants
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) saving water (c) a visit to an old fort (d) ants
18. 18.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
19. 19.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) a busy railway station (b) a day at the beach (c) a cricket match (d) my best friend
20. 20.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. Farhan and I play football after school. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
22. 22.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
24. 24.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) We must not waste water.
25. 25.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) saving water (b) grandma's garden (c) my grandfather (d) our trip to the zoo
26. 26.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
27. 27.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) our postman (b) our trip to the zoo (c) a visit to an old fort (d) a busy railway station
28. 28.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
29. 29.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We must not waste water.
30. 30.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 postman (b) eating healthy food (c) making a rangoli (d) my new bicycle
31. 31.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) making a rangoli (b) my best friend (c) our pet cat (d) our trip to the zoo
32. 32.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our desks are arranged in neat rows. 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 school library is my favourite place. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The railway station is always busy.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Frogs croak loudly in the wet fields. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
34. 34.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. A magician does tricks for the children. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
35. 35.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
36. 36.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 peacock (b) the village fair (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a cricket match
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ First we draw the pattern with white chalk. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
39. 39.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) saving water (b) our classroom (c) my new bicycle (d) the school library
40. 40.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.

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