Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 152 · 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?
   “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
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
3. 3.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) How do you catch a cloud in a jar?
4. 4.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
6. 6.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) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) My story is about a day at school.
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
12. 12.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
13. 13.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
14. 14.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) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
20. 20.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
23. 23.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
24. 24.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) Who would steal a whole bus?
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) My story is about a day at school.
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
29. 29.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
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Who left giant footprints on our roof?
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
32. 32.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) My story is about a day at school.
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
36. 36.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Did you know our school has a secret door? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
37. 37.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk?
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk?

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