Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 58 · 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 hooks the reader most? (a) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
3. 3.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Where do lost socks really go? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Who left giant footprints on our roof?
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa.
7. 7.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
8. 8.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
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
10. 10.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What would you do if your shadow ran away? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
12. 12.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
13. 13.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who would steal a whole bus? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
17. 17.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) My story is about a day at school.
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) How do you catch a cloud in a jar?
24. 24.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
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
26. 26.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) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who would steal a whole bus? (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
29. 29.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
30. 30.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) Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark.
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
33. 33.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) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (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?
    Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
36. 36.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
37. 37.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
38. 38.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
39. 39.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
40. 40.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

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