Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 159 · 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 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) A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere. (b) By noon, Aditi’s rangoli was the brightest on the street. (c) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step.
2. 2.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) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
3. 3.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) Homework is left at home
4. 4.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 car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) A train is three hours late
5. 5.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. Tara asked Mr Nair, the gardener, what was wrong. He helped her move the pot into the sunshine. Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced. (a) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (b) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. (c) Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced.
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the garden shed (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) one Monday morning
7. 7.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) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school library (b) one cloudy evening (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
9. 9.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
10. 10.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
11. 11.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) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. (c) By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat.
12. 12.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend. (b) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. (c) Her train was three hours late.
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a lane in Kochi (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) on Sports Day
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school gate (b) one quiet Sunday (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
15. 15.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) The torn page is mended with tape (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a hot summer night (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) the beach
17. 17.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
18. 18.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The microphone stops working before her song
19. 19.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. (b) Ayaan reached school just as the bell rang. (c) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane.
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the sports ground (b) on a Wednesday evening (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the wedding hall (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) one spring afternoon
22. 22.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.
23. 23.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) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
24. 24.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.
25. 25.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim. (b) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (c) The old well had dried up, and people had no water.
26. 26.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 baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) A lift stops between two floors
27. 27.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) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. (c) Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now.
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her building (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) early one Saturday
29. 29.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) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) A train is three hours late
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) on a busy Monday (c) the village square
31. 31.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) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (c) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize.
32. 32.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) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. (b) Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen. (c) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall.
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) the city fair (c) one warm evening
34. 34.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) Everyone sings along with her (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
35. 35.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
36. 36.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 puppy cannot find its owner (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) the school hall (c) one stormy night
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the village square (b) during a dry summer (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
39. 39.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. Meera and her friend Tenzin searched seat by seat. The red box was hiding under the very last seat. Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you. (a) The box is found under the last seat (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The village well has dried up
40. 40.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd

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