Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 54 · 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) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
2. 2.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) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
4. 4.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
7. 7.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
8. 8.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
9. 9.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
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (c) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond.
13. 13.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
17. 17.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
23. 23.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
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
25. 25.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
28. 28.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
30. 30.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
32. 32.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
33. 33.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Where do lost socks really go? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
36. 36.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
37. 37.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
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
39. 39.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.

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