Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 104 · 40 questions

Writer's tip (No problem, no story): Find the moment where something goes wrong — usually just after the beginning. Say it in a few words: a kite gets stuck in a tree. A place, a time or the way it gets fixed is not the problem.

1. 1.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! Neel did not panic and looked at the names inside. Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane. Neel ran in the right shoes and came second. (a) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. (b) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (c) Neel ran in the right shoes and came second.
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her balcony (b) one hot afternoon (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
3. 3.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. Priya hid behind a bush and saw a monkey, Bholu, take one. She left bananas for Bholu, and he left the mangoes alone. Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan. (a) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the city fair (b) one quiet Sunday (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
5. 5.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. Aisha wrote a note and took it to the principal. Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day. Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters. (a) Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters. (b) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. (c) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted.
6. 6.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. Sneha found a torch and made shadow animals on the wall. Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. Sneha told stories until the lights came back on. (a) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
7. 7.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. Tanmay could not reach it with his arm or a stick. His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out. Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe. (a) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
8. 8.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. Aarav jumped and jumped, but he could not reach it. His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free. Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (a) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (b) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (c) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground.
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the vegetable market (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) on a festive night
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school library (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) one busy morning
11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room. He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. Rahul was upset, but his friend Simran had an idea. They turned the big blue splash into a lake. Rahul’s poster with the lake won first prize. (a) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room. (b) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. (c) Rahul’s poster with the lake won first prize.
12. 12.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond. Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. Kabir tried to reach it, but his arms were too short. He tied a basket to a stick and scooped the ball out. Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game. (a) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one foggy morning (b) the school library (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The microphone stops working before her song (b) one spring morning (c) his rooftop
15. 15.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. Saanvi looked under the sofa and behind every cushion. At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head! Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (a) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (b) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (c) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere.
16. 16.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. Ananya stayed calm and checked every jar again. Joseph brought her fresh baking soda from the lab. This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize. (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
17. 17.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. The old well had dried up, and people had no water. Lakshmi asked everyone to dig a pond to catch the rain. Raju and the others dug every evening for a month. When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim. (a) Homework is left at home (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The village well has dried up
18. 18.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school. She was too shy to sing in front of the others. Meher closed her eyes and pictured singing at home. Mr Bose, the teacher, asked everyone to sing with her. Meher sang the whole song and felt brave. (a) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school. (b) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave. (c) She was too shy to sing in front of the others.
19. 19.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! Riya laughed and asked politely if it could be fixed. Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing. Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right. (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the vegetable market (b) on Pongal morning (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Science Day (b) Homework is left at home (c) her balcony
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one hot afternoon (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) his rooftop
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A baby bird falls out of its nest (b) a lane in Kochi (c) on bake sale day
24. 24.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane. A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. Ayaan ran home and told Maa what had happened. Maa quickly gave him a clean spare uniform. Ayaan reached school just as the bell rang. (a) The microphone stops working before her song (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) the music room (c) on Craft Day
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the science fair (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) on a Tuesday evening
27. 27.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. Maria thought hard and moved further up the sand. Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out. This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (a) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) It is built higher up with a moat
28. 28.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. Then Isha saw another girl sitting alone too. Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch. By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (a) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
29. 29.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. Saanvi looked under the sofa and behind every cushion. At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head! Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (a) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one quiet Sunday (b) the school bus (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
31. 31.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. Sahil stayed calm and pressed the red alarm button. Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once. Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely. (a) A lift stops between two floors (b) The alarm button brings help (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
32. 32.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. Anjali pressed her rubber slipper hard over the crack. Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there. Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (a) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) A boat starts to leak (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
33. 33.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. Simran put on gloves and lifted it very gently. Dadi held the stool while she put it back in the nest. Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home. (a) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. (b) Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home. (c) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly.
34. 34.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. A baby yak had wandered away from the herd. Tenzin followed its hoofprints down the muddy path. He found it by a stream and gently led it back. His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (a) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
35. 35.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! Manav ran after the goat and held out a carrot. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (a) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
36. 36.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On a crowded evening, Vihaan went to the city fair. He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad. Vihaan stayed calm and went to a lady in uniform. Officer Kaur called his name on the loudspeaker. In five minutes, Vihaan’s dad came running to him. (a) On a crowded evening, Vihaan went to the city fair. (b) In five minutes, Vihaan’s dad came running to him. (c) He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad.
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school hall (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) one bright morning
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music school (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) on Sports Day
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) on a busy Monday (c) the muddy lane
40. 40.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. Rohan sat down and studied the chain slowly. Mr Das, a kind farmer, showed him how to fix it. Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now. (a) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. (b) Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now. (c) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off.

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