Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 221 · 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?
   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 is trapped at a window (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The window is opened to let it out
2. 2.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) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (b) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself. (c) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed.
3. 3.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.
4. 4.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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his rooftop (b) on a long car trip (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
6. 6.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) Ayaan reached school just as the bell rang. (b) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane. (c) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform.
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Wednesday evening (b) the bakery (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) the beach (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) one sunny morning (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
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 marble rolls into a deep drain (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) The shoes are swapped back
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one warm evening (b) a new school (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the front step (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) one Monday morning
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring afternoon (b) the highway (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) during a dry summer (c) his classroom
15. 15.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 kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) the school hall (c) on Sports Day
17. 17.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) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (b) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room.
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a long car trip (b) the village square (c) A bean seed does not sprout
19. 19.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) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. (b) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely. (c) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors.
20. 20.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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
21. 21.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 boy gets lost in a big crowd
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nani’s orchard (b) on a long car trip (c) The village well has dried up
23. 23.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. Sneha found a torch and made shadow animals on the wall. Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. Sneha told stories until the lights came back on. (a) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on. (b) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (c) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried.
24. 24.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund. (b) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. (c) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate.
25. 25.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) A train is three hours late (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
26. 26.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) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
27. 27.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) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) A boat starts to leak
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the science fair (b) A train is three hours late (c) on Pongal morning
29. 29.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) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (b) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (c) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends.
30. 30.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) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. (b) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. (c) Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now.
31. 31.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 bean seed does not sprout (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) The alarm button brings help
32. 32.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) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (b) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (c) A long snake was curled up near the door.
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the railway station (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) on Craft Day
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A boat starts to leak (b) on the first day of school (c) the beach
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the backwaters (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) early one Saturday
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) the school gate (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
37. 37.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) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (b) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again. (c) He found that he had left his homework at home.
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Friday afternoon (b) Nani’s orchard (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
39. 39.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) A train is three hours late (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the washroom (b) one misty dawn (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away

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