Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 172 · 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?
   “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
2. 2.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Where do lost socks really go? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
14. 14.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
15. 15.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) There was a house. It had a door.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) My story is about a day at school.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) My story is about a day at school.
23. 23.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
24. 24.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
25. 25.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
27. 27.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
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
29. 29.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor.
30. 30.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (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) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
33. 33.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away.
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.

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