Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 65 · 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) There was a house. It had a door. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car?
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (b) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
3. 3.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
4. 4.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
6. 6.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
7. 7.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
10. 10.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
11. 11.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (c) How do you catch a cloud in a jar?
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
13. 13.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
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond. (b) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (c) My story is about a day at school.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Who left giant footprints on our roof?
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight.
18. 18.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) In this story I will write about a tree. (c) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman.
21. 21.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) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away.
22. 22.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “Today, everything will go wrong,” said Dev.
23. 23.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
24. 24.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (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) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
26. 26.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
27. 27.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) Have you ever heard a tree laugh?
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crunch! Someone was eating in the dark. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
29. 29.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
30. 30.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
31. 31.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
32. 32.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Who would steal a whole bus? (c) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
33. 33.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) There was a house. It had a door.
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (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) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
37. 37.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
38. 38.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
39. 39.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?

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