Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 214 · 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?
   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 goat runs loose and eats the spinach (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a busy Monday (b) the school library (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
3. 3.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) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself. (b) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (c) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library.
4. 4.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) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize. (b) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (c) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened.
5. 5.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.
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the front step (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) on a Tuesday evening
7. 7.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) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (b) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (c) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school.
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the back yard (b) early one Saturday (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
9. 9.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) A board held up blocks the wind (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
10. 10.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) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
11. 11.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) Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen. (b) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. (c) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”.
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) on a hot summer night (c) the science fair
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on her birthday morning (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) the colony park
14. 14.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) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (b) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail. (c) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby.
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) one spring afternoon (c) A lift stops between two floors
16. 16.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 baby yak wanders away from the herd
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Sunday evening (b) the music room (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a new school (b) in the dry season (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) a new school (c) one spring afternoon
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) the hill road (c) A bean seed does not sprout
21. 21.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) Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now. (b) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. (c) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road.
22. 22.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 bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
23. 23.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 baby bird falls out of its nest (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the sports ground (b) Homework is left at home (c) one breezy evening
25. 25.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) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) A train is three hours late
26. 26.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) Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe. (b) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (c) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard.
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) on a long car trip (c) the school bus
28. 28.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) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. (b) A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. (c) Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed.
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring morning (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) the city fair
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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
31. 31.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.
32. 32.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
33. 33.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. (b) Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home. (c) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly.
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the sports ground (b) on a Friday afternoon (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
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) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
36. 36.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) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Science Day (b) a lane in Kochi (c) The village well has dried up
38. 38.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) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave. (b) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school. (c) She was too shy to sing in front of the others.
39. 39.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (b) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. (c) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach!
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the wedding hall (b) one spring morning (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip

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