Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 180 · 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?
   What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
7. 7.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) Who would steal a whole bus?
8. 8.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Have you ever met a goat that could read? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
10. 10.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) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Who left giant footprints on our roof?
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
13. 13.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
16. 16.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
17. 17.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
18. 18.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) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
25. 25.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
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
28. 28.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
29. 29.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
30. 30.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (c) My story is about a day at school.
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking

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