Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 143 · 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?
   “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away.
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) Who left giant footprints on our roof?
7. 7.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
8. 8.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
9. 9.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Where do lost socks really go?
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
12. 12.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
20. 20.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 a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Where do lost socks really go?
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
24. 24.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever met a goat that could read? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
28. 28.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) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
29. 29.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
30. 30.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) My story is about a day at school.
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
32. 32.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
33. 33.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
34. 34.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) How do you catch a cloud in a jar?
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.

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