Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 458 · 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?
   
   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) my new bicycle (b) the vegetable market (c) the night sky (d) ants
2. 2.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 postman (b) my new bicycle (c) the night sky (d) the old banyan tree
3. 3.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
4. 4.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) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
6. 6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Dark clouds gather and rain pours down. Children float paper boats in puddles. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The railway station is always busy.
7. 7.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) eating healthy food (b) the vegetable market (c) our classroom (d) our school sports day
8. 8.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 visit to an old fort (b) saving water (c) the rainy season (d) the school library
9. 9.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
10. 10.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) my grandfather (b) my best friend (c) saving water (d) elephants
11. 11.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 rainy season (b) the night sky (c) a cricket match (d) our classroom
12. 12.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) We must not waste water.
13. 13.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ My grandfather goes for a walk every morning. Grandpa reads the newspaper after breakfast. My grandfather loves to play chess with me. (a) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
14. 14.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) our school sports day (b) the night sky (c) my grandfather (d) our trip to the zoo
15. 15.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) the vegetable market (b) a cricket match (c) our school sports day (d) making a rangoli
16. 16.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) We must not waste water. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
17. 17.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) our school sports day (b) our pet cat (c) flying kites (d) grandma's garden
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The librarian helps us find good books. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Trains arrive and leave every few minutes. Porters in red shirts carry heavy luggage. Tea sellers walk up and down the platform. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
20. 20.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
21. 21.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) making a rangoli (b) our classroom (c) the rainy season (d) the village fair
22. 22.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 postman (b) our classroom (c) the old banyan tree (d) a day at the beach
23. 23.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
24. 24.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
25. 25.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) eating healthy food (b) the rainy season (c) elephants (d) our postman
26. 26.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) grandma's garden (b) our postman (c) our trip to the zoo (d) our classroom
27. 27.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 postman (b) the rainy season (c) the peacock (d) making a rangoli
28. 28.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We must not waste water.
29. 29.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
30. 30.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) We must not waste water.
31. 31.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
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 railway station is always busy. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
34. 34.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. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
35. 35.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 classroom (b) our postman (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the school library
36. 36.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) saving water (b) our postman (c) the school library (d) a visit to an old fort
37. 37.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Then we fill it with bright coloured powder. We place small lamps around the design. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
39. 39.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
40. 40.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.

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