Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 761 · 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 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 postman (b) a busy railway station (c) grandma's garden (d) the peacock
2. 2.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
3. 3.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 peacock (c) our classroom (d) the rainy season
4. 4.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 spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We must not waste water. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
5. 5.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) a visit to an old fort (b) ants (c) eating healthy food (d) saving water
6. 6.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) making a rangoli (b) my best friend (c) the rainy season (d) our postman
7. 7.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) our pet cat (c) a cricket match (d) our postman
8. 8.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ It is red with a shiny silver bell. I ride it to the park every evening. I oil the chain of my bicycle every week. (a) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) A fair comes to our village every winter. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
9. 9.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
   
   ___ It has tall shelves full of storybooks. We may borrow two books every week. Everyone reads quietly in the library. (a) My best friend is Farhan. (b) The railway station is always busy. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
10. 10.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) the night sky (b) grandma's garden (c) making a rangoli (d) the school library
11. 11.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) My grandfather is seventy years old. (d) A fair comes to our village every winter.
12. 12.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) our trip to the zoo (b) flying kites (c) the school library (d) saving water
13. 13.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) The monsoon is my favourite season. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
14. 14.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ We climbed up to the tower. The guide told us about the old kings. From the tower we could see the whole town. (a) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
15. 15.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) a busy railway station (b) ants (c) my grandfather (d) my new bicycle
16. 16.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) eating healthy food (b) our school sports day (c) a day at the beach (d) the old banyan tree
17. 17.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 railway station is always busy. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Our school sports day was full of fun. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
18. 18.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) ants (b) a day at the beach (c) our pet cat (d) saving water
19. 19.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ She has soft white fur and green eyes. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) My best friend is Farhan. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
20. 20.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
21. 21.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 busy railway station (c) my best friend (d) a cricket match
22. 22.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The night sky is full of wonders.
23. 23.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 trip to the zoo (b) the peacock (c) our school sports day (d) the old banyan tree
24. 24.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) Our classroom is bright and clean. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
25. 25.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 grandfather (b) the vegetable market (c) the school library (d) my best friend
26. 26.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) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) The railway station is always busy. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
27. 27.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) elephants (b) the school library (c) the rainy season (d) saving water
28. 28.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) My best friend is Farhan.
29. 29.What is this paragraph mostly about?
    
    Ants are tiny but very hard-working. They live together in an anthill. Ants can carry food heavier than themselves. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) the village fair (b) a cricket match (c) ants (d) our trip to the zoo
30. 30.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 night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong.
31. 31.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The monkeys jumped from branch to branch. A giraffe ate leaves from a tall tree. We watched the zookeeper feed the bears. (a) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) Our class visited an old fort on a hill.
32. 32.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) The night sky is full of wonders. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
33. 33.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
34. 34.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. He carries a big brown bag of letters. The postman knows every house on our street. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
35. 35.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) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) The vegetable market near our house opens early.
36. 36.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) our classroom (b) the rainy season (c) my new bicycle (d) grandma's garden
37. 37.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ The waves splashed over our feet. We built a big sandcastle. We collected shells near the shore. (a) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
38. 38.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) making a rangoli (b) the school library (c) our school sports day (d) eating healthy food
39. 39.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Children fly kites from their rooftops. We buy strong string for our kites. At night, people fly kites with small lights. (a) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
40. 40.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) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.

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