Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 190 · 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.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
2. 2.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
3. 3.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) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
6. 6.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
8. 8.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
11. 11.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) My story is about a day at school.
13. 13.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
14. 14.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (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?
    Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
24. 24.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
26. 26.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (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?
    Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
31. 31.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
33. 33.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) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
37. 37.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question

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