Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 303 · 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?
   Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.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
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
4. 4.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) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
8. 8.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
9. 9.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Why was the old well glowing 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) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
14. 14.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 if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
23. 23.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (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?
    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
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
26. 26.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
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
29. 29.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) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
30. 30.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
32. 32.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) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
34. 34.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
35. 35.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
36. 36.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
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (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) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.

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