Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 46 · 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) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant?
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
5. 5.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond.
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) How do you catch a cloud in a jar?
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
12. 12.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Who left giant footprints on our roof?
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
15. 15.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
16. 16.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever met a goat that could read? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
19. 19.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.
20. 20.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
22. 22.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who left giant footprints on our roof? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
23. 23.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
24. 24.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
25. 25.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
28. 28.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) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
29. 29.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
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor.
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
36. 36.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
37. 37.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
38. 38.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
39. 39.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.

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