Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 241 · 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 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 baby bird falls out of its nest
2. 2.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 baby bird falls out of its nest (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the vegetable market (b) on bake sale day (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
4. 4.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.
5. 5.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 car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
6. 6.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) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (b) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (c) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat.
7. 7.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) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. (c) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair.
8. 8.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 tap keeps dripping and wasting water (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school library (b) one hot afternoon (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
10. 10.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.
11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) In five minutes, Vihaan’s dad came running to him. (b) On a crowded evening, Vihaan went to the city fair. (c) He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad.
12. 12.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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one rainy morning (b) the school gate (c) Homework is left at home
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the bakery (b) one windy afternoon (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
15. 15.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) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school hall (b) during a dry summer (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
17. 17.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) The wrong name is written on a cake
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one misty dawn (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) a tall building
19. 19.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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 little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. (b) Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box. (c) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop.
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nani’s orchard (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) one misty dawn
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) on Craft Day (c) the wedding hall
22. 22.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) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a busy Monday (b) the vegetable market (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one busy morning (b) the sports ground (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on bake sale day (b) The village well has dried up (c) her balcony
26. 26.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park. (b) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. (c) By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat.
27. 27.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) She was too shy to sing in front of the others. (c) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave.
28. 28.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game. (b) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (c) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond.
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the highway (b) one spring morning (c) A train is three hours late
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one bright morning (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) a new school
31. 31.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) The shoes are swapped back (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
32. 32.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 is shivering in the cold rain (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) on a Tuesday evening (c) the village pond
34. 34.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 lift stops between two floors (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
35. 35.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) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. (b) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. (c) Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly.
36. 36.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
37. 37.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) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (c) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat.
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) the school library (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
39. 39.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 puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
40. 40.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely

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