Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 116 · 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.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
3. 3.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic.
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
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 hooks the reader most? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Where do lost socks really go? (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
12. 12.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk?
17. 17.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
26. 26.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
30. 30.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
32. 32.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who left giant footprints on our roof? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond.
36. 36.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
37. 37.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.

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