Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 163 · 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.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) one stormy night (c) the front step
2. 2.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) He found that he had left his homework at home. (b) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again. (c) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom.
3. 3.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) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
4. 4.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) The old well had dried up, and people had no water. (c) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square.
5. 5.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 tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) early one Saturday (b) the beach (c) The microphone stops working before her song
7. 7.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 puppy cannot find its owner (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
8. 8.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 boat starts to leak (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
9. 9.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 is curled up in a shed (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) her grandpa’s flat (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the playground (b) one Monday morning (c) A bean seed does not sprout
12. 12.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 tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
13. 13.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) The microphone stops working before her song (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
14. 14.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) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
15. 15.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) Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced. (b) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (c) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all.
16. 16.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) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (b) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (c) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky.
17. 17.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.
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Craft Day (b) her grandpa’s flat (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a festive night (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) his classroom
20. 20.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (b) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (c) Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe.
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) a lane in Kochi (c) one warm evening
22. 22.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) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
23. 23.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 carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) The village well has dried up (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
24. 24.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate. By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. Kiara made a bright sign that said “Fresh Cookies!” Her friend Zubin rang a bell to call people over. Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund. (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
25. 25.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) They put on the spare tyre together (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
26. 26.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
27. 27.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) The village well has dried up
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) Nani’s orchard (c) during the Christmas holidays
29. 29.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (b) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (c) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat.
30. 30.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 village well has dried up
31. 31.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A board held up blocks the wind
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) after the lunch bell (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) the art room
33. 33.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.
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring afternoon (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) the science fair
35. 35.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) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school garden (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) one sunny morning
37. 37.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) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (b) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on. (c) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway.
38. 38.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 kite gets stuck high up in a tree (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
39. 39.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (b) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (c) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself.
40. 40.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine

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