Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 8 · 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 girl. She had a bag. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Who left giant footprints on our roof?
2. 2.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) My story is about a day at school. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) Splash! Kabir fell straight into the pond.
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
5. 5.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) How do you catch a cloud in a jar?
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (b) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (c) My story is about a day at school.
7. 7.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
8. 8.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
9. 9.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (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?
    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
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
12. 12.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
13. 13.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (c) My story is about a day at school.
14. 14.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (b) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
16. 16.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum.
17. 17.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) My story is about a day at school.
19. 19.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
20. 20.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
21. 21.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
22. 22.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
23. 23.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill.
24. 24.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
25. 25.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (b) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
26. 26.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) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
28. 28.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
29. 29.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
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.
31. 31.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
32. 32.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
33. 33.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 a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
34. 34.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha.
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Can a pumpkin really grow as big as a car? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
36. 36.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
37. 37.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (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) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house.
39. 39.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) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.

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