Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 188 · 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. 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) The village well has dried up (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
2. 2.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 cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) The alarm button brings help
3. 3.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
4. 4.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) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) They put on the spare tyre together
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Craft Day (b) the sports ground (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) a tall building
7. 7.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) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (b) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (c) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall.
8. 8.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) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (b) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. (c) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize.
9. 9.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) Her model volcano will not fizz
10. 10.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) A boat starts to leak (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the front step (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) on bake sale day
12. 12.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) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one foggy morning (b) the village pond (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
14. 14.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) Neel ran in the right shoes and came second. (b) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. (c) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big!
15. 15.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) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. (b) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (c) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree.
16. 16.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) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. (b) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. (c) Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters.
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) the village square (c) one sunny morning
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) one summer holiday (c) her grandpa’s flat
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the front step (b) The village well has dried up (c) one quiet Sunday
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music school (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) one rainy morning
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The microphone stops working before her song (b) on a festive night (c) the art room
22. 22.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) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) Homework is left at home (c) The box is found under the last seat
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 tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
24. 24.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 tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his rooftop (b) one spring morning (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the highway (b) one sunny morning (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) the school gate
28. 28.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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) the art room (c) on a long car trip
30. 30.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music room (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) on Pongal morning
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A train is three hours late (b) the music school (c) on a Tuesday evening
33. 33.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 hard word makes her mind go blank (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
34. 34.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) Homework is left at home (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
35. 35.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 microphone stops working before her song (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (b) Nani’s orchard (c) one quiet Sunday
37. 37.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.
38. 38.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) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (b) The old well had dried up, and people had no water. (c) When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim.
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) the science fair
40. 40.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.

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