Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 125 · 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?
   Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Have you ever met a goat that could read? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) My story is about a day at school.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
12. 12.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
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
14. 14.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (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?
    Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Did you know our school has a secret door? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond.
23. 23.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
28. 28.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.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
32. 32.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (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) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
36. 36.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
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
39. 39.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking

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