Story Starters Worksheet

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

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