Story Starters Worksheet

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

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