Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 104 · 40 questions

Writer's tip (Grab them at once): Start with someone speaking: “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. Start with a question: Where do lost socks really go? Start with a sound word: Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. Avoid “This is a story about…”.

1. 1.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
3. 3.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
6. 6.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
13. 13.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) My story is about a day at school.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
23. 23.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
24. 24.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Who would steal a whole bus?
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
30. 30.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Where do lost socks really go?
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) Where do lost socks really go?
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
39. 39.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
40. 40.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) Who would steal a whole bus?

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