Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 257 · 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) on a Friday afternoon (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) his classroom
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) one foggy morning (c) the playground
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her building (b) Homework is left at home (c) on a festive night
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school library (b) during a dry summer (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
5. 5.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) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (b) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond. (c) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game.
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) one hot afternoon
7. 7.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) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
8. 8.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) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
9. 9.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) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. (c) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane.
10. 10.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 is shivering in the cold rain (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) one Sunday evening (c) the school garden
12. 12.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 bean seed does not sprout (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A board held up blocks the wind
13. 13.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. Maria thought hard and moved further up the sand. Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out. This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (a) This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (b) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (c) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach.
14. 14.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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her building (b) one breezy evening (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
16. 16.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Pongal morning (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) a lane in Kochi
18. 18.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 tap keeps dripping and wasting water (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Monday morning (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) the colony park
20. 20.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
21. 21.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) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (b) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. (c) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely.
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) the muddy lane (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Science Day (b) a tall building (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
24. 24.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) A baby bird falls out of its nest (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) on Sports Day
26. 26.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) Homework is left at home
27. 27.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) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (b) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (c) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief.
28. 28.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) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (b) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. (c) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree.
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the colony park (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) on a crowded evening
30. 30.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 rescuer carries it away safely (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the backwaters (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) in the dry season
32. 32.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. (b) The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend. (c) Her train was three hours late.
33. 33.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) Everyone sings along with her
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) on her birthday morning (c) the village square
35. 35.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) A lift stops between two floors
36. 36.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) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (c) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch.
37. 37.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) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate. (b) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund. (c) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie.
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on competition day (b) the school gate (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
39. 39.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) Homework is left at home
40. 40.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.

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