Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 302 · 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?
   
   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) a day at the beach (b) our school sports day (c) our postman (d) our classroom
2. 2.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) grandma's garden (b) the rainy season (c) elephants (d) our pet cat
3. 3.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
4. 4.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) saving water (b) the peacock (c) grandma's garden (d) my best friend
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. Farhan and I play football after school. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
6. 6.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 classroom (b) the night sky (c) my new bicycle (d) the school library
7. 7.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Take a quick bath with one bucket of water. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
8. 8.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) our trip to the zoo (b) saving water (c) a busy railway station (d) making a rangoli
9. 9.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
10. 10.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) our trip to the zoo (b) the rainy season (c) ants (d) my best friend
11. 11.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
12. 12.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) our classroom (b) eating healthy food (c) the old banyan tree (d) our pet cat
13. 13.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) the school library (b) our postman (c) a cricket match (d) my best friend
14. 14.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
15. 15.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. We place small lamps around the design. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
16. 16.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) grandma's garden (b) my grandfather (c) making a rangoli (d) our pet cat
17. 17.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
18. 18.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) my grandfather (b) a cricket match (c) our pet cat (d) the school library
19. 19.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our classroom is bright and clean.
20. 20.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
21. 21.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) We must not waste water.
22. 22.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) elephants (b) my grandfather (c) saving water (d) the rainy season
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. A green board hangs at the front. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
24. 24.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. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
25. 25.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) our pet cat (b) the rainy season (c) our school sports day (d) the peacock
26. 26.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) a day at the beach (c) making a rangoli (d) saving water
27. 27.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
28. 28.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) eating healthy food (b) my grandfather (c) ants (d) our trip to the zoo
29. 29.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
30. 30.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) our classroom (b) saving water (c) a cricket match (d) a day at the beach
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Imran took the last wicket. Everyone cheered when we won the match. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
32. 32.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
33. 33.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 rainy season (d) grandma's garden
34. 34.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. Fruits give us many vitamins. Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) saving water (b) our school sports day (c) eating healthy food (d) the school library
35. 35.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) our postman (b) saving water (c) a busy railway station (d) making a rangoli
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 village fair (b) the night sky (c) the old banyan tree (d) my grandfather
37. 37.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We must not waste water.
38. 38.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
39. 39.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
40. 40.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.

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