His question so startled her that for a moment, she couldn't answer.

He looked up as though the question had startled him.

The question startled her for she had not given it a thought.

His question startled me, not least because it was the same question my heart asked every day.

The question startled me, and I turned back to face him.

That question startled me when I first asked it of myself.

The question startled her so, that for the first time she actually looked at him, dark eyes widening.

The question startled me and I did not respond right away.

Her question, breaking into my thoughts out of nowhere, startled me.

The question startled him, though he managed not to make any physical reaction.