Topic Sentence Worksheet

Writing skills lesson 9: Topic sentence · Set 879 · 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?
   
   ___ He brings letters and parcels every day. He carries a big brown bag of letters. We always thank the postman with a smile. (a) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (c) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
2. 2.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) the rainy season (b) a day at the beach (c) my best friend (d) ants
3. 3.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
4. 4.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) The peacock is the national bird of India. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) My grandmother has a lovely garden.
5. 5.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) eating healthy food (c) our trip to the zoo (d) a day at the beach
6. 6.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 monsoon is my favourite season. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We spent a happy day at the beach. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
7. 7.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) In January, the sky fills with kites. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
8. 8.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 peacock (b) the night sky (c) grandma's garden (d) our pet cat
9. 9.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) We spent a happy day at the beach. (b) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (c) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
10. 10.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our street had a cricket match on Sunday. (c) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (d) Our school library is my favourite place.
11. 11.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) a cricket match (b) a busy railway station (c) saving water (d) the rainy season
12. 12.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) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) The monsoon is my favourite season. (d) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo.
13. 13.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) our trip to the zoo (c) my grandfather (d) flying kites
14. 14.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 vegetable market (b) our pet cat (c) grandma's garden (d) eating healthy food
15. 15.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) grandma's garden (b) ants (c) a busy railway station (d) the old banyan tree
16. 16.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Stalls sell bangles, toys and balloons. A magician does tricks for the children. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Our school library is my favourite place. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) The railway station is always busy.
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) grandma's garden (b) the vegetable market (c) flying kites (d) the village fair
18. 18.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ Turn off the tap while you brush. Fix leaking taps quickly. Use a bucket, not a pipe, to wash the car. (a) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) We must not waste water. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
19. 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 store food for the winter. (a) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (b) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (c) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
20. 20.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) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Our school sports day was full of fun. (c) A fair comes to our village every winter. (d) An old banyan tree stands in our village.
21. 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) my grandfather (b) our school sports day (c) grandma's garden (d) the school library
22. 22.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) making a rangoli (b) our postman (c) our pet cat (d) a day at the beach
23. 23.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) In January, the sky fills with kites. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
24. 24.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 best friend is Farhan. (b) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) My grandfather is seventy years old.
25. 25.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) my best friend (b) a cricket match (c) making a rangoli (d) flying kites
26. 26.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. We eat hot jalebis at the fair. (a) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) We have a pet cat named Mishti.
27. 27.Which sentence is the best opening (topic sentence) for this paragraph?
    
    ___ They live together in an anthill. Ants walk one behind the other in a line. Ants store food for the winter. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) We spent a happy day at the beach.
28. 28.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. Elephants eat grass, leaves and fruit. (a) Our school library is my favourite place. (b) The night sky is full of wonders. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) Elephants are the biggest land animals.
29. 29.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) I got a new bicycle on my birthday. (b) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli.
30. 30.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) My grandfather is seventy years old. (c) The night sky is full of wonders. (d) Ants are tiny but very hard-working.
31. 31.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 railway station is always busy. (b) In January, the sky fills with kites. (c) Our class visited an old fort on a hill. (d) I got a new bicycle on my birthday.
32. 32.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) Healthy food keeps our bodies strong. (b) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
33. 33.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) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) We must not waste water. (c) Our school library is my favourite place. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
34. 34.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) A fair comes to our village every winter. (b) My best friend is Farhan. (c) We must not waste water. (d) In January, the sky fills with kites.
35. 35.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 street had a cricket match on Sunday. (b) My grandmother has a lovely garden. (c) The vegetable market near our house opens early. (d) The monsoon is my favourite season.
36. 36.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) elephants (b) my grandfather (c) our trip to the zoo (d) ants
37. 37.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) Elephants are the biggest land animals. (b) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (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?
    
    ___ Mishti drinks milk from a blue bowl. She sleeps in a basket near the window. Mishti chases balls of wool all day. (a) Ants are tiny but very hard-working. (b) Last Sunday, our class went to the zoo. (c) We have a pet cat named Mishti. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.
39. 39.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) saving water (b) the rainy season (c) grandma's garden (d) our postman
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. Peahens are smaller and brown in colour. (a) Ramesh is the postman in our area. (b) An old banyan tree stands in our village. (c) Every Diwali, my sister and I make a rangoli. (d) The peacock is the national bird of India.

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