Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 264 · 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. 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) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond. (b) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (c) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game.
2. 2.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) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
3. 3.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) The village well has dried up
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one stormy night (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) the art room
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Sunday evening (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) her grandpa’s flat
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school hall (b) one sunny morning (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
7. 7.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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 cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (b) Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right. (c) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery.
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) A bean seed does not sprout (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
9. 9.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
10. 10.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) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (b) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail. (c) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby.
11. 11.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
12. 12.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) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. (b) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. (c) Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen.
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the garden shed (b) one cloudy evening (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) on competition day (c) her grandpa’s flat
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Wednesday evening (b) the back yard (c) A lift stops between two floors
16. 16.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) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. (b) Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters. (c) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom.
17. 17.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) A butterfly is trapped at a window
18. 18.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. The old well had dried up, and people had no water. Lakshmi asked everyone to dig a pond to catch the rain. Raju and the others dug every evening for a month. When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim. (a) The village well has dried up (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) Homework is left at home
19. 19.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 tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) The box is found under the last seat
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) on bake sale day (c) the school garden
21. 21.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) Everyone sings along with her (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) during the Christmas holidays (b) a tall building (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) during a dry summer (c) the highway
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on her birthday morning (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) her grandpa’s flat
25. 25.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 baby bird falls out of its nest (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) The shoes are swapped back
26. 26.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 rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A boat starts to leak (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
27. 27.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.
28. 28.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 kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
29. 29.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) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) A train is three hours late
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one hot afternoon (b) A boat starts to leak (c) the front step
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a busy Monday (b) the beach (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school hall (b) during a dry summer (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
33. 33.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 bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
34. 34.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
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) 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.
36. 36.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) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (c) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground.
37. 37.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) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on. (c) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat.
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) the muddy lane (c) on a Wednesday evening
39. 39.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) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (c) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working.
40. 40.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) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) A train is three hours late

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