Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 682 · 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?
   
   ___ Its seat is soft and comfortable. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
2. 2.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 peacock is the national bird of India. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) The railway station is always busy.
3. 3.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) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
4. 4.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
5. 5.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ There is a giant wheel and a merry-go-round. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) The railway station is always busy.
6. 6.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
7. 7.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ Milk and curd make our bones strong. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
8. 8.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) elephants (b) my new bicycle (c) a cricket match (d) our classroom
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) my best friend (b) grandma's garden (c) my grandfather (d) a busy railway station
10. 10.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) a day at the beach (b) a cricket match (c) the school library (d) making a rangoli
11. 11.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Kunal bowled very fast. Our team scored fifty runs. Imran took the last wicket. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
12. 12.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
13. 13.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
14. 14.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) a visit to an old fort (d) making a rangoli
15. 15.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
16. 16.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) ants (b) grandma's garden (c) our classroom (d) my grandfather
17. 17.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Red roses grow along the fence. She sprinkles the plants every morning. Butterflies visit the marigold flowers. (a) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
18. 18.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) ants (b) eating healthy food (c) the village fair (d) our postman
19. 19.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
20. 20.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area.
21. 21.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) The monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
22. 22.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 railway station is always busy. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
23. 23.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 village fair (b) saving water (c) the vegetable market (d) the peacock
24. 24.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. Children float paper boats in puddles. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
25. 25.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) The railway station is always busy.
26. 26.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Thousands of stars twinkle above us. The moon looks like a silver plate. Some stars make shapes in the sky. (a) We must not waste water. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
28. 28.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
29. 29.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun.
30. 30.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ I ran in the hundred-metre race. Our house won the tug of war. The winners got shiny medals. (a) Our school sports day was full of fun. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
31. 31.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. She sleeps in a basket near the window. (a) We must not waste water. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
32. 32.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. Our neighbours stop to admire our rangoli. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
33. 33.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Fruits give us many vitamins. Dal and eggs build strong muscles. Too many sweets are bad for our teeth. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
34. 34.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 night sky (b) a cricket match (c) the old banyan tree (d) saving water
35. 35.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) ants (b) the village fair (c) the peacock (d) our pet cat
36. 36.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) ants (b) elephants (c) our postman (d) my grandfather
37. 37.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 old banyan tree (c) making a rangoli (d) the vegetable market
38. 38.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) my best friend (b) flying kites (c) a visit to an old fort (d) our postman
39. 39.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) Our classroom is bright and clean. (d) We must not waste water.
40. 40.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. Baby elephants stay close to their mothers. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.

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