Story Starters Worksheet

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

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