Story Starters Worksheet

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

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