Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 31 · 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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (c) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who would steal a whole bus? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) My story is about a day at school.
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Who would steal a whole bus?
8. 8.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
10. 10.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
11. 11.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
12. 12.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 a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
14. 14.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.
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
16. 16.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
17. 17.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever met a goat that could read? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
23. 23.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
24. 24.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
26. 26.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) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
28. 28.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) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
29. 29.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
30. 30.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
31. 31.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Did you know our school has a secret door? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
32. 32.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away.
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
34. 34.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
36. 36.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
38. 38.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
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
40. 40.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking

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