Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 252 · 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?
   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) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) the backwaters (c) one spring morning
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) early one Saturday (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) the playground
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his classroom (b) one windy afternoon (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) the colony park (c) one hot afternoon
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) the hill road (c) on a Wednesday evening
7. 7.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) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (c) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself.
8. 8.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) The alarm button brings help (c) A lift stops between two floors
9. 9.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 chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (b) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (c) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat.
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) her balcony (c) early one Saturday
11. 11.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 baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A hard word makes her mind go blank (b) on a long car trip (c) a new school
13. 13.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
14. 14.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) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. (b) Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home. (c) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony.
15. 15.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) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) The microphone stops working before her song
16. 16.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room. He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. Rahul was upset, but his friend Simran had an idea. They turned the big blue splash into a lake. Rahul’s poster with the lake won first prize. (a) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. (b) Rahul’s poster with the lake won first prize. (c) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room.
17. 17.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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
18. 18.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 bean seed does not sprout
19. 19.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) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail. (b) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (c) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby.
20. 20.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) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (b) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (c) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground.
21. 21.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) They put on the spare tyre together (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) early one Saturday (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) his hill village
23. 23.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) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (b) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. (c) Neel ran in the right shoes and came second.
24. 24.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) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. (b) Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly. (c) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring.
25. 25.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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
26. 26.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.
27. 27.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one summer holiday (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) the sports ground
29. 29.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) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) The torn page is mended with tape
30. 30.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) Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed. (b) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. (c) A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart.
31. 31.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step. (b) A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere. (c) By noon, Aditi’s rangoli was the brightest on the street.
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) his hill village (c) on the first day of school
33. 33.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) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. (b) Ayaan reached school just as the bell rang. (c) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane.
34. 34.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”.
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) in the dry season (c) the garden shed
36. 36.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the highway (b) one rainy morning (c) A bean seed does not sprout
38. 38.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) His running shoes are the wrong size
39. 39.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) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again. (b) He found that he had left his homework at home. (c) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom.
40. 40.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 saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank

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