Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 216 · 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) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
2. 2.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
3. 3.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
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) My story is about a day at school.
6. 6.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
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Who would steal a whole bus?
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
12. 12.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
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.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
19. 19.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
23. 23.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
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) My story is about a day at school.
27. 27.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) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
28. 28.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
29. 29.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
30. 30.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
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
32. 32.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
33. 33.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
37. 37.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
40. 40.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.

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