Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 141 · 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?
   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) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. (b) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan. (c) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees.
2. 2.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Wednesday evening (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) the vegetable market
4. 4.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (b) A long snake was curled up near the door. (c) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed.
5. 5.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 seat of the park swing has cracked (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) It is built higher up with a moat
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) her balcony (c) one quiet Sunday
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his hill village (b) one hot afternoon (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) during the Christmas holidays (c) the back yard
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) one breezy evening (c) the playground
10. 10.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.
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music school (b) one foggy morning (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
12. 12.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) He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad. (c) In five minutes, Vihaan’s dad came running to him.
13. 13.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. Diya held out a biscuit and spoke softly to it. The puppy crept out and licked her hand. Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed. (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
14. 14.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. Kavya took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. She sang so loudly that everyone could hear her. Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (a) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. (b) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (c) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya.
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one warm evening (b) the muddy lane (c) The microphone stops working before her song
16. 16.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on. (b) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (c) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat.
17. 17.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 puppy has torn a page of a library book
18. 18.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
19. 19.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) The blue splash is turned into a lake (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
20. 20.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (b) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail. (c) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building.
21. 21.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 rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) A boat starts to leak
22. 22.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) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (b) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (c) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug.
23. 23.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) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring morning (b) the art room (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a crowded evening (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) the garden shed
26. 26.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. Diya held out a biscuit and spoke softly to it. The puppy crept out and licked her hand. Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed. (a) Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed. (b) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. (c) A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart.
27. 27.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. (b) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize. (c) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair.
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) the front step (c) one quiet Sunday
29. 29.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) The window is opened to let it out (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
30. 30.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A baby bird falls out of its nest (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
31. 31.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 baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
32. 32.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Science Day (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) the washroom
34. 34.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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 lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (b) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely. (c) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building.
35. 35.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. Omkar spoke softly and put a saucer of milk nearby. The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box. (a) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. (b) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. (c) Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box.
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) on a crowded evening
37. 37.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
38. 38.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the beach (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) one bright morning
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a tall building (b) after the lunch bell (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd

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