Story Starters Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 21: Story starters that hook the reader · Set 82 · 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) Where do lost socks really go? (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) My story is about a day at school.
2. 2.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Where do lost socks really go? (b) This story is about a cat and a mouse. (c) Crash! The cricket ball smashed the window.
3. 3.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
4. 4.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
5. 5.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) Hiss! A snake slid out of the water pot.
6. 6.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Ring, ring! The phone woke the whole house. (b) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (c) Why was the old well glowing at midnight?
7. 7.Why does this opening hook the reader?
   Have you ever heard a tree laugh? (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
8. 8.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Clang! The temple bell rang by itself at midnight. (b) Have you ever met a goat that could read? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
9. 9.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) Where do lost socks really go? (c) “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera.
10. 10.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?
11. 11.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 question (c) it starts with a sound word
12. 12.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) There was a girl. She had a bag. (c) “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir.
13. 13.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 someone speaking (c) it starts with a question
14. 14.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Something is moving in the cupboard,” said Zoya. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
15. 15.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) “This is not an ordinary box,” whispered Nani.
16. 16.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
17. 17.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    What if your parrot told everyone your secrets? (a) it starts with a sound word (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with someone speaking
18. 18.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (b) Who left giant footprints on our roof? (c) There was a house. It had a door.
19. 19.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) Boom! The sky lit up with fireworks.
20. 20.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Who left giant footprints on our roof? (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
21. 21.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) It was a normal day and nothing happened. (c) Who would steal a whole bus?
22. 22.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) A boy went to school. Then he came home. (b) Pop! The balloon burst in Dad’s face. (c) Once there was a dog. It was a dog.
23. 23.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) Have you ever met a goat that could read?
24. 24.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) This story is about a cat and a mouse.
25. 25.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) In this story I will write about a tree. (b) My story is about a day at school. (c) “Run, the bees are coming!” shouted Aarav.
26. 26.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) There was a house. It had a door. (b) How do you catch a cloud in a jar? (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
27. 27.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Quick, the train is leaving!” yelled Meera. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a question (c) it starts with a sound word
28. 28.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “There’s a monkey in the kitchen!” cried Mum. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
29. 29.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) Thud! A coconut dropped right at my feet. (c) It was a normal day and nothing happened.
30. 30.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (b) There was a house. It had a door. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
31. 31.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
32. 32.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Buzz! A huge bee landed on my nose. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) There was a girl. She had a bag.
33. 33.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.
34. 34.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    Honk! A runaway cart of melons rolled downhill. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with someone speaking (c) it starts with a sound word
35. 35.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “I found a map under my bed!” said Isha. (a) it starts with someone speaking (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with a question
36. 36.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) There was a girl. She had a bag. (b) “Never feed a dragon after dark,” said Grandpa. (c) “The trophy is gone!” gasped the principal.
37. 37.Which opening is dull and needs a better hook? (a) Where do lost socks really go? (b) This is a story about a boy called Ravi. (c) What would you do if your shadow ran away?
38. 38.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) Once there was a dog. It was a dog. (b) “Hold on tight!” yelled the boatman. (c) This is my story. I hope you like it.
39. 39.Why does this opening hook the reader?
    “Somebody has eaten my homework!” wailed Kabir. (a) it starts with a question (b) it starts with a sound word (c) it starts with someone speaking
40. 40.Which opening hooks the reader most? (a) I am going to tell you about my holiday. (b) One day I woke up and had my breakfast. (c) Did you know our school has a secret door?

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