Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 230 · 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) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
2. 2.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
4. 4.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
5. 5.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) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
8. 8.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
12. 12.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (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) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (c) My story is about a day at school.
14. 14.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
15. 15.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
20. 20.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
21. 21.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Where do lost socks really go?
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
30. 30.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
32. 32.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
33. 33.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
34. 34.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
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who would steal a whole bus? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
37. 37.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
39. 39.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
40. 40.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.

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