Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 13 · 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) My story is about a day at school. (c) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
2. 2.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
3. 3.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) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic.
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
6. 6.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (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) My story is about a day at school. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic.
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (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?
    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
13. 13.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 a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Did you know our school has a secret door? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Where do lost socks really go? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
20. 20.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
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
22. 22.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
26. 26.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
27. 27.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) Did you know our school has a secret door?
28. 28.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
29. 29.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
30. 30.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
31. 31.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
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
34. 34.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
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
36. 36.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
40. 40.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.

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