Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 50 · 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.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ The day began with a march past. I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
2. 2.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
4. 4.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
5. 5.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We must not waste water.
6. 6.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 rainy season (b) eating healthy food (c) our trip to the zoo (d) the village fair
7. 7.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 day at the beach (b) a cricket match (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a visit to an old fort
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) ants (c) our pet cat (d) my new bicycle
9. 9.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) grandma's garden (b) a cricket match (c) the old banyan tree (d) our classroom
10. 10.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
11. 11.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
12. 12.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) the vegetable market (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a busy railway station
13. 13.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
14. 14.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
15. 15.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) the rainy season (b) our school sports day (c) elephants (d) flying kites
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. We keep our classroom tidy every day. (a) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
17. 17.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 vegetable market (b) flying kites (c) our school sports day (d) making a rangoli
18. 18.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) flying kites (b) ants (c) a day at the beach (d) a busy railway station
19. 19.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) the old banyan tree (b) the vegetable market (c) the rainy season (d) eating healthy food
20. 20.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 old banyan tree (b) my grandfather (c) a visit to an old fort (d) the rainy season
21. 21.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 school library (b) the night sky (c) making a rangoli (d) a busy railway station
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) the rainy season (b) saving water (c) a busy railway station (d) flying kites
23. 23.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The day began with a march past. I ran in the hundred-metre race. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) We must not waste water.
24. 24.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
25. 25.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
26. 26.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
27. 27.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) We must not waste water. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
28. 28.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
29. 29.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
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) flying kites (b) my new bicycle (c) a day at the beach (d) our school sports day
31. 31.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) our trip to the zoo (b) grandma's garden (c) the school library (d) eating healthy food
32. 32.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) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
33. 33.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Its stone walls were very thick. We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
35. 35.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
36. 36.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. The monsoon turns the dry fields green. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) We must not waste water. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
37. 37.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
38. 38.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We saw a tiger resting on a big rock. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Sometimes we spot a shooting star. (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 class visited an old fort on a hill.
40. 40.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. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.

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