Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 20 · 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 is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
2. 2.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
3. 3.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
4. 4.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
6. 6.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) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
7. 7.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
9. 9.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
11. 11.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
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
13. 13.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
14. 14.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (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) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
18. 18.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) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) My story is about a day at school.
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
23. 23.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
24. 24.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
25. 25.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) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
28. 28.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
30. 30.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
31. 31.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
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?
    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
34. 34.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond.
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.

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