Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 432 · 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 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 new bicycle (b) our classroom (c) our trip to the zoo (d) saving water
2. 2.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
3. 3.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) making a rangoli (b) eating healthy food (c) my best friend (d) elephants
4. 4.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) making a rangoli (b) the old banyan tree (c) grandma's garden (d) the vegetable market
5. 5.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 store food for the winter. (a) We must not waste water. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
6. 6.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
7. 7.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
8. 8.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) flying kites (b) grandma's garden (c) the old banyan tree (d) our pet cat
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
10. 10.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
11. 11.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
12. 12.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
13. 13.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) elephants (b) the night sky (c) a cricket match (d) a busy railway station
14. 14.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We must not waste water. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
15. 15.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 night sky (b) saving water (c) a cricket match (d) ants
16. 16.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
17. 17.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
18. 18.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) my new bicycle (b) my grandfather (c) a cricket match (d) the night sky
19. 19.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) my new bicycle (b) the rainy season (c) our pet cat (d) our school sports day
20. 20.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 vegetable market (b) ants (c) making a rangoli (d) our trip to the zoo
21. 21.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) We must not waste water. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
22. 22.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) We must not waste water.
23. 23.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) eating healthy food (b) the school library (c) elephants (d) grandma's garden
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) my best friend (b) a cricket match (c) the school library (d) our postman
25. 25.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 night sky (b) the school library (c) the old banyan tree (d) our school sports day
26. 26.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. The postman knows every house on our street. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
27. 27.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) We must not waste water. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
28. 28.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
29. 29.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) a visit to an old fort (b) the old banyan tree (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the night sky
30. 30.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
32. 32.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
33. 33.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 classroom is bright and clean. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We must not waste water.
35. 35.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) a cricket match (b) making a rangoli (c) our classroom (d) my new bicycle
36. 36.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
37. 37.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) the village fair (b) our postman (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the night sky
38. 38.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) a day at the beach (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the night sky
39. 39.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
40. 40.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.

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