Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 306 · 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?
   Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
4. 4.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
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk?
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
12. 12.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
13. 13.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
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
17. 17.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Did you know our school has a secret door? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) My story is about a day at school.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
32. 32.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
34. 34.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
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) How do you catch a cloud in a jar?
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
40. 40.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?

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