Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 164 · 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?
   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
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
6. 6.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
7. 7.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
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
12. 12.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
13. 13.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
23. 23.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
24. 24.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who would steal a whole bus? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor.
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
28. 28.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
29. 29.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
30. 30.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 a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
31. 31.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
33. 33.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
34. 34.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
38. 38.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
39. 39.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
40. 40.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking

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