Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 35 · 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 is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
2. 2.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
3. 3.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
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
5. 5.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) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
8. 8.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
9. 9.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
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
13. 13.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
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
16. 16.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
21. 21.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
22. 22.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
23. 23.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 a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
24. 24.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Did you know our school has a secret door? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) My story is about a day at school.
29. 29.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
30. 30.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) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) My story is about a day at school.
32. 32.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
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
34. 34.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
35. 35.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
36. 36.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (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) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
38. 38.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
40. 40.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?

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