Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 121 · 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?
   Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park. The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. Ishaan asked the other children to help him mend it. Mrs Rao gave them a strong plank and some rope. By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat. (a) Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park. (b) By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat. (c) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two.
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) one busy morning (c) Nani’s orchard
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) her balcony
4. 4.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (b) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (c) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch.
5. 5.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
6. 6.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) The alarm button brings help (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
7. 7.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan. (b) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. (c) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard.
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nani’s orchard (b) after the lunch bell (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
9. 9.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (b) This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (c) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach.
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) one breezy evening (c) her grandpa’s flat
11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step. A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere. Aditi did not give up and started all over again. Her brother Sid held up a board to block the wind. By noon, Aditi’s rangoli was the brightest on the street. (a) By noon, Aditi’s rangoli was the brightest on the street. (b) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step. (c) A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere.
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the sports ground (b) one hot afternoon (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) a tall building (c) on Annual Day
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) one hot afternoon (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
15. 15.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) The village well has dried up (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
16. 16.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 kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on her birthday morning (b) Nani’s orchard (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
18. 18.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. Pooja drew posters and stuck them on every gate. A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy. Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail. (a) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) The village well has dried up
19. 19.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. A long snake was curled up near the door. Imran stepped back slowly and did not touch it. Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely. Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
20. 20.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. Nisha recalled the rhyme Mrs Sen had taught her. She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen. (a) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. (b) Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen. (c) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”.
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the back yard (b) on Science Day (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
22. 22.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. Zoya looked carefully under every chair and table. The earring was shining beside the flower stand. Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly. (a) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. (b) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. (c) Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly.
23. 23.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) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
24. 24.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
25. 25.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) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
26. 26.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.
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school garden (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) on a busy Monday
28. 28.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. Advik opened the window wide and stepped back. Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside. Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (a) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (b) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room.
29. 29.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (b) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond. (c) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game.
30. 30.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. Dev was scared, but he told the librarian the truth. Ms Fernandes smiled and showed him how to tape it. Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself. (a) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) the beach (c) one stormy night
32. 32.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.
33. 33.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) A boat starts to leak (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
34. 34.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. Her train was three hours late. Fatima opened her bag and found a book of puzzles. She and an old man, Mr Iyer, solved puzzles together. The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend. (a) A train is three hours late (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
35. 35.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. Yash held the torch while Uncle Ravi took out the spare. Together they changed the tyre in twenty minutes. Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on. (a) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) They put on the spare tyre together
36. 36.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The village well has dried up (b) the school bus (c) on a Friday afternoon
38. 38.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. He found that he had left his homework at home. Aryan told Ms Gill the truth before she even asked. Ms Gill let him bring it the next day. Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again. (a) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (b) He found that he had left his homework at home. (c) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again.
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Tuesday evening (b) the muddy lane (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
40. 40.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (b) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (c) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on.

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