Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 234 · 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) in the dry season (b) her grandpa’s flat (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
2. 2.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) Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced. (c) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all.
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Science Day (b) the school hall (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
4. 4.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) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! (b) Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (c) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market.
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) the school bus
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the art room (b) on the first day of school (c) The village well has dried up
7. 7.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) one rainy morning (c) the colony park
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) on a festive night (c) the hill road
10. 10.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) The microphone stops working before her song (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
11. 11.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) They put on the spare tyre together
12. 12.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 kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
13. 13.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
14. 14.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) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a tall building (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) one warm evening
16. 16.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) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) A boat starts to leak (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
17. 17.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) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. (c) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off.
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the railway station (b) during the Christmas holidays (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
19. 19.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. Priya hid behind a bush and saw a monkey, Bholu, take one. She left bananas for Bholu, and he left the mangoes alone. Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan. (a) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
20. 20.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 tap keeps dripping and wasting water (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Tuesday evening (b) the village square (c) A train is three hours late
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) her building (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
23. 23.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) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (b) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (c) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on.
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A lift stops between two floors (b) on Craft Day (c) her flat in Pune
25. 25.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) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (b) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (c) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window.
26. 26.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) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
27. 27.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) Homework is left at home (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
28. 28.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) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (b) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (c) Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe.
29. 29.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) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school. (b) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave. (c) She was too shy to sing in front of the others.
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one quiet Sunday (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) the playground
31. 31.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 puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Sunday evening (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) the beach
33. 33.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 lift stops between two floors (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) The alarm button brings help
34. 34.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.
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) the back yard (c) Homework is left at home
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) in the dry season (b) the school garden (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
37. 37.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 microphone stops working before her song (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
38. 38.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) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (b) A long snake was curled up near the door. (c) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed.
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the vegetable market (b) on Sports Day (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on bake sale day (b) the garden shed (c) His running shoes are the wrong size

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