Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 36 · 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?
   Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) My story is about a day at school.
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
4. 4.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
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
12. 12.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Where do lost socks really go? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
17. 17.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
18. 18.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
19. 19.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
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
22. 22.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Did you know our school has a secret door? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
24. 24.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
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
26. 26.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “I can fly!” said the little elephant.
31. 31.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
32. 32.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
33. 33.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
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who would steal a whole bus? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
36. 36.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
38. 38.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.

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