Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 80 · 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) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
2. 2.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
3. 3.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) “Don’t open that box!” shouted Grandpa. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
4. 4.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
5. 5.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) What was hiding inside Grandma’s locked trunk? (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (c) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet.
7. 7.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
8. 8.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
9. 9.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Why was the old well glowing at midnight? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
11. 11.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) What would you do if your shadow ran away? (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) There was a house. It had a door.
13. 13.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
14. 14.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) In this story I will write about a tree.
15. 15.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (c) “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya.
16. 16.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
17. 17.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
18. 18.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
19. 19.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose.
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (b) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (c) My story is about a day at school.
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
23. 23.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Achoo! The giant sneezed and the trees shook.
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) This is my story. I hope you like it. (c) In this story I will write about a tree.
25. 25.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
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa.
27. 27.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
28. 28.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) Have you ever woken up as tiny as an ant? (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
29. 29.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
30. 30.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) Why did the cat bring home a fish every day?
31. 31.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Bang! Something heavy fell in the attic. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
32. 32.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
33. 33.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) One day I woke up and had my breakfast.
34. 34.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani. (c) What if your parrot told everyone your secrets?
35. 35.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face.
36. 36.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
37. 37.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) “I can fly!” said the little elephant. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) This is a story about a boy called Ravi.
39. 39.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Whoosh! The wind snatched my hat away. (c) A boy went to school. Then he came home.
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (b) “Nobody must know about this,” said the old sailor. (c) I am going to tell you about my holiday.

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