Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 300 · 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.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
3. 3.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
7. 7.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) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who would steal a whole bus? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
12. 12.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
17. 17.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
19. 19.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) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
25. 25.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever met a goat that could read? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
27. 27.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.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
29. 29.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
30. 30.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) My story is about a day at school.
32. 32.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (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?
    Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
35. 35.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
36. 36.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
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) My story is about a day at school.
39. 39.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
40. 40.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question

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