Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 252 · 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?
   
   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) making a rangoli (c) my new bicycle (d) grandma's garden
2. 2.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
3. 3.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
4. 4.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) The railway station is always busy. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
5. 5.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
6. 6.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) eating healthy food (b) my grandfather (c) the village fair (d) ants
7. 7.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
8. 8.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) eating healthy food (b) making a rangoli (c) the vegetable market (d) our pet cat
9. 9.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) a busy railway station (c) saving water (d) grandma's garden
10. 10.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
11. 11.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
12. 12.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 class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
13. 13.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
14. 14.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) grandma's garden (b) the night sky (c) the old banyan tree (d) the village fair
15. 15.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. Loud announcements tell people about the trains. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
17. 17.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) a visit to an old fort (b) our school sports day (c) our classroom (d) my new bicycle
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
19. 19.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. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
20. 20.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
21. 21.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) We must not waste water.
22. 22.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
23. 23.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 rainy season (b) saving water (c) flying kites (d) our classroom
24. 24.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) my best friend (b) grandma's garden (c) eating healthy food (d) my new bicycle
25. 25.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) my new bicycle (b) the village fair (c) making a rangoli (d) the school library
26. 26.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We built a big sandcastle. Dad bought us fresh coconuts. We collected shells near the shore. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
28. 28.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 day at the beach (c) our school sports day (d) the village fair
29. 29.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its branches spread very wide. Long roots hang down from its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
31. 31.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
32. 32.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) eating healthy food (b) the night sky (c) a day at the beach (d) my grandfather
33. 33.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
34. 34.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
35. 35.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) elephants (b) grandma's garden (c) ants (d) our trip to the zoo
36. 36.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. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
37. 37.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) the peacock (b) the school library (c) flying kites (d) a visit to an old fort
38. 38.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. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
39. 39.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
40. 40.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) a day at the beach (b) eating healthy food (c) the rainy season (d) saving water

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