Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 518 · 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?
   
   ___ It has big windows that let in sunlight. Our desks are arranged in neat rows. A green board hangs at the front. (a) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
2. 2.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
3. 3.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
4. 4.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 best friend is Farhan. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
5. 5.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) our postman (b) my best friend (c) a visit to an old fort (d) grandma's garden
6. 6.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 pet cat (b) the night sky (c) a busy railway station (d) our classroom
7. 7.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 vegetable market (b) a day at the beach (c) making a rangoli (d) the school library
8. 8.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
9. 9.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) flying kites (b) the school library (c) grandma's garden (d) ants
10. 10.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
11. 11.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 grandfather is seventy years old. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
12. 12.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) my new bicycle (c) the rainy season (d) grandma's garden
13. 13.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
14. 14.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 trip to the zoo (b) the vegetable market (c) grandma's garden (d) our postman
15. 15.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 school sports day was full of fun. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
16. 16.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
17. 17.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) my best friend (b) the village fair (c) our trip to the zoo (d) saving water
18. 18.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) our classroom (b) our postman (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a day at the beach
19. 19.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
20. 20.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
21. 21.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
22. 22.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) making a rangoli (b) our school sports day (c) the old banyan tree (d) my new bicycle
23. 23.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) our school sports day (b) the peacock (c) the rainy season (d) the school library
24. 24.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 school sports day (b) the peacock (c) the rainy season (d) my best friend
25. 25.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) the old banyan tree (b) a day at the beach (c) a busy railway station (d) the school library
26. 26.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) The railway station is always busy. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The peacock is the national bird of India. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
27. 27.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) my grandfather (b) the night sky (c) our classroom (d) elephants
28. 28.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) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
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. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
30. 30.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Farhan sits next to me in class. My friend always shares his lunch with me. He is a true friend who helps me. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
32. 32.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) the peacock (b) elephants (c) the night sky (d) flying kites
33. 33.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) We must not waste water. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
34. 34.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) our classroom (b) our pet cat (c) eating healthy food (d) saving water
35. 35.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
36. 36.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The railway station is always busy.
37. 37.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) flying kites (b) our pet cat (c) my grandfather (d) the vegetable market
38. 38.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 school library (b) the rainy season (c) making a rangoli (d) the old banyan tree
39. 39.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
40. 40.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) saving water (b) elephants (c) our pet cat (d) the old banyan tree

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