Name: _______________________________________________________ Date: _________________________________ Core: ___

Identify the Topic Sentence

Review: The topic sentence is the most important sentence of a paragraph. It states the main idea and
introduces the reader to the topic.

Directions: Choose the best topic sentence for each group of supporting sentences and circle the answer.

Example: ___________b_____________. I 3) _____. First of all, we need money to repair

usually go skiing every weekend in the winter even old roads and build new roads. We also need
though it is expensive. I love the feeling of flying more to pay teachers’ salaries and to pay for
down a mountain. The views are beautiful from the services such as trash collection. Finally, more
top of a mountain and along the trails. Even the tax money is needed to give financial help to the
danger of falling and getting hurt can’t keep me poor citizens of the city. It is clear that the
away from the slopes on a winter day. city will have serious problems if taxes are not
raised soon.
a) Skiing is expensive.
b) Skiing is my favorite sport. a) We should raise city taxes.
c) Skiing is dangerous. b) City taxes are too high.
c) City taxes pay for new roads.

1) _____. North Americans send cards for many

occasions. They send cards to family and friends 4) _____. For example, a person can have
on birthdays and holidays. They also send breakfast in New York, board an airplane, and
thank-you cards, get well cards, graduation have dinner in Paris. A businesswoman in London
cards, and congratulation cards. It is very can instantly place an order with a factory in
common to buy cards in stores and send them Hong Kong by sending a fax. Furthermore, a
through the mail, but turning on the computer schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV and watch a
and sending cards over the Internet is also baseball game being played in Los Angeles.
popular.
a) Airplanes have changed our lives.
a) Sending cards is very popular in North America. b) Advances in technology have made the world
b) Birthday cards are the most popular kind of seem smaller.
card. c) The fax machine was an important invention.
c) It is important to send thank-you cards.

5) _____. One thing you must consider is the

2) _____. I enjoy summer sports like water quality of the university’s educational program.
skiing and baseball. The weather is usually sunny You also need to think about the school’s size
and hot, so I can go to the beach almost every and location. Finally, you must be sure to
day. Gardening is my hobby and I spend many consider the university’s tuition to make sure you
summer days working in my garden. can afford to go to school there.
Unfortunately, the days pass too quickly in
summer. a) It is expensive to attend a university in the
United States.
a) I like to garden in summer. b) There are several factors to consider when you
b) Summer is my favorite season. choose a university to attend.
c) Summer is to short. c) You should consider getting a good education.
 Name: _______________________________________________________ Date: _________________________________ Core: ___

Topic Sentences and Paragraphs

Directions: Read each question, and circle the correct answer.

1. Which sentence would be BEST to put at the 5. Which sentence below would be the best
start of the paragraph below? starting sentence for the following paragraph?
Jim likes to play football. His sister plays baseball. It took our bus four hours to get to Sea World. We
His brother is on a basketball team. His parents like saw whales, seals, and sharks. There were also many
to ski in the winter. fish in tanks.

A. Jim has a large family. A. Our class took a trip.

B. Jim's family enjoys sports. B. One of my favorite things was the whale.
C. Playing sports is good exercise. C. I ate lunch outside with my class.

2. Which would be the BEST topic sentence for 6. What sentence below tells what this paragraph
this paragraph? is about?
My school has recess every day. I like to play on the A. I made dinner for my family.
swings and jungle gym with my friends. We like to B. I stirred the rice.
laugh and run. Recess is my favorite time of the day. C. I peeled the carrots.

A. Recess is when I can have fun with my friends.

B. Some kids bring their toys from home for recess.
7. Which would be the BEST sentence to put at
C. Parents sometimes bring their small children
the beginning of the following paragraph?
during recess for a visit. Georgia has a new flag. The flag has the state seal.
South Carolina's flag has a tree and the moon. The
3. Which is the BEST topic sentence that could flag of Wyoming has a buffalo.
be put at the beginning of this paragraph?
I play basketball every weekend. My friends and I A. California's flag has a bear.
play it at recess and after school. My mom took me B. Every state has a different flag.
to a basketball game. I got to see Michael Jordan C. Georgia's flag is very interesting.
play. That was the greatest because basketball is
my favorite game.
8. Which sentence tells what the paragraph is
A. Basketball is my favorite game. about?
B. Michael Jordan was a great basketball player. Our family spent the vacation at the beach. It was
C. Some people play both football and basketball. sunny and breezy. The sand felt warm under our
feet. We made sand castles and had lunch on our
blanket. It was a fun time.
4. Which would make the BEST topic sentence
for the paragraph below? A. Our family spent the vacation at the beach.
Matt likes dogs and playing soccer. Claire likes cats B. It was sunny and breezy.
and playing tennis. Matt likes to eat pizza. Claire's C. We made sand castles and had lunch on our
favorite food is spaghetti. blanket.

A. Matt and Claire like animals.

B. Pizza and spaghetti taste good.
C. Matt and Claire like different things.