Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 6 · 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?
   Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
2. 2.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
3. 3.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (c) My story is about a day at school.
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
6. 6.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
9. 9.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Who left giant footprints on our roof? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
10. 10.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
11. 11.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
14. 14.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
15. 15.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
17. 17.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
18. 18.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) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Who would steal a whole bus?
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
21. 21.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is my story. I hope you like it. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
24. 24.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.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
26. 26.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Did you know our school has a secret door? (c) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
30. 30.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
31. 31.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
33. 33.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 sound word (c) it starts with a question
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
35. 35.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) There was a girl. She had a bag.
36. 36.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
37. 37.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
39. 39.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) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Where do lost socks really go? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.

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