Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 45 · 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) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
2. 2.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) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
3. 3.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
5. 5.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) Who would steal a whole bus?
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
12. 12.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (c) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (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) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
21. 21.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
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
23. 23.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
24. 24.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (b) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Did you know our school has a secret door? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic.
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
31. 31.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
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.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
34. 34.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
35. 35.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
37. 37.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
38. 38.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Did you know our school has a secret door? (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
40. 40.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.

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