Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 16 · 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?
   “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
2. 2.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) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
7. 7.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
12. 12.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
13. 13.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
14. 14.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
15. 15.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) My story is about a day at school.
21. 21.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) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
22. 22.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
23. 23.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) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
24. 24.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
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
26. 26.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) My story is about a day at school.
29. 29.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) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
32. 32.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (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) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
37. 37.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) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
39. 39.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
40. 40.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

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