Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 246 · 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) our postman (b) my new bicycle (c) ants (d) the school library
2. 2.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. A green board hangs at the front. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) We must not waste water.
3. 3.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 railway station is always busy. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
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 school sports day (b) the night sky (c) the vegetable market (d) flying kites
5. 5.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
6. 6.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 best friend (b) saving water (c) making a rangoli (d) grandma's garden
7. 7.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
8. 8.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) our trip to the zoo (b) elephants (c) flying kites (d) my grandfather
9. 9.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) my best friend (b) elephants (c) our classroom (d) my grandfather
10. 10.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) our school sports day (b) the vegetable market (c) the school library (d) a day at the beach
11. 11.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) the vegetable market (b) ants (c) saving water (d) flying kites
12. 12.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 school library (b) the vegetable market (c) the rainy season (d) a busy railway station
13. 13.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
14. 14.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
15. 15.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
16. 16.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
17. 17.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
19. 19.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) grandma's garden (b) flying kites (c) a cricket match (d) my new bicycle
20. 20.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
21. 21.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
22. 22.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. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
23. 23.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 classroom (b) a visit to an old fort (c) making a rangoli (d) a cricket match
24. 24.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) our postman (b) my new bicycle (c) our school sports day (d) a cricket match
25. 25.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
26. 26.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We must not waste water.
28. 28.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
29. 29.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) our pet cat (c) the old banyan tree (d) grandma's garden
30. 30.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kites of every colour dance in the wind. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
32. 32.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
33. 33.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
35. 35.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
36. 36.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
37. 37.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) saving water (b) the rainy season (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our postman
38. 38.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The railway station is always busy.
39. 39.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
40. 40.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.

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