Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 105 · 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?
   Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
3. 3.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
6. 6.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
7. 7.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
8. 8.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Who left giant footprints on our roof?
11. 11.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?
12. 12.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
13. 13.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
14. 14.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Did you know our school has a secret door? (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
17. 17.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (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) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
23. 23.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
24. 24.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) My story is about a day at school.
26. 26.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
30. 30.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away.
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
32. 32.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
34. 34.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking

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