Topic Sentence Worksheet
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.
NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
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1.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 grandfather (b) elephants (c) my best friend (d) a day at the beach -
2.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) a cricket match (b) grandma's garden (c) the vegetable market (d) flying kites -
3.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 classroom (b) eating healthy food (c) grandma's garden (d) the rainy season -
4.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) a busy railway station (b) the peacock (c) grandma's garden (d) the night sky -
5.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 trip to the zoo (b) our pet cat (c) my new bicycle (d) elephants -
6.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
___ Red roses grow along the fence. She grows tomatoes and chillies too. She sprinkles the plants every morning. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) The night sky is full of wonders. -
7.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) my grandfather (b) the village fair (c) my best friend (d) grandma's garden -
8.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) My grandfather is seventy years old. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Our school sports day was full of fun. -
9.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 school library is my favourite place. (c) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. -
10.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) my grandfather (b) the peacock (c) a day at the beach (d) the vegetable market -
11.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) my new bicycle (b) the village fair (c) a visit to an old fort (d) saving water -
12.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) our classroom (b) our trip to the zoo (c) the rainy season (d) a cricket match -
13.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. -
14.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We must not waste water. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season. -
15.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) Ramesh is the postman in our area. -
16.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 school library (b) a day at the beach (c) our trip to the zoo (d) elephants -
17.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites. -
18.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) My best friend is Farhan. -
19.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 walk one behind the other in a line. (a) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) We spent a happy day at the beach. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My best friend is Farhan. -
20.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach. -
21.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 school library (b) the old banyan tree (c) our school sports day (d) eating healthy food -
22.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) my best friend (c) a busy railway station (d) flying kites -
23.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) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. -
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) grandma's garden (b) our postman (c) eating healthy food (d) our classroom -
25.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
___ Its tail feathers have beautiful eye spots. A peacock dances with its feathers spread. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. -
26.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) elephants (b) my best friend (c) a busy railway station (d) grandma's garden -
27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
___ Sellers pile fresh vegetables on their carts. People bargain loudly over prices. By noon, most of the vegetables are sold. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school library is my favourite place. -
28.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 vegetable market (b) a busy railway station (c) elephants (d) my new bicycle -
29.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) My best friend is Farhan. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. -
30.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) the village fair (b) the peacock (c) the school library (d) the night sky -
31.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old. -
32.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) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti. -
33.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) the school library (b) my new bicycle (c) eating healthy food (d) my grandfather -
34.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 sports day was full of fun. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) The railway station is always busy. -
35.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India. -
36.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) My best friend is Farhan. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites. -
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) my new bicycle (b) the old banyan tree (c) the peacock (d) the school library -
38.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 peacock (b) a cricket match (c) eating healthy food (d) making a rangoli -
39.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) elephants (b) a visit to an old fort (c) saving water (d) our pet cat -
40.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
___ Long roots hang down from its branches. Birds build nests in its branches. Villagers rest in its cool shade. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) The peacock is the national bird of India. (c) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (d) The railway station is always busy.
Answer key
- my grandfather
- grandma's garden
- the rainy season
- the night sky
- our pet cat
- My grandmother has a lovely garden.
- my best friend
- The night sky is full of wonders.
- Our school library is my favourite place.
- a day at the beach
- the village fair
- our trip to the zoo
- Elephants are the biggest land animals.
- We must not waste water.
- My grandmother has a lovely garden.
- elephants
- Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
- The monsoon is my favourite season.
- Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
- Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
- the school library
- our classroom
- Our classroom is bright and clean.
- our postman
- The peacock is the national bird of India.
- a busy railway station
- The vegetable market near our house opens early.
- the vegetable market
- Our school sports day was full of fun.
- the peacock
- Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
- We have a pet cat named Mishti.
- eating healthy food
- The railway station is always busy.
- The peacock is the national bird of India.
- Our street had a cricket match on Sunday.
- the old banyan tree
- making a rangoli
- a visit to an old fort
- An old banyan tree stands in our village.
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