Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 266 · 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 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) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. (c) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road.
2. 2.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) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (b) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (c) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief.
3. 3.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A boat starts to leak
4. 4.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 snake is curled up in a shed (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
5. 5.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) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky.
6. 6.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) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. (b) Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (c) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach!
7. 7.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) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (b) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (c) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends.
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one rainy morning (b) the beach (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
9. 9.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
10. 10.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 kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the town hall (b) on Science Day (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
12. 12.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) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) The village well has dried up
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on competition day (b) the music room (c) A bean seed does not sprout
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Monday morning (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) the sports ground
15. 15.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) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. (b) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (c) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree.
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a busy Monday (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) the back yard
17. 17.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) The microphone stops working before her song (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
18. 18.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) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
19. 19.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (b) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (c) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on.
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) one foggy morning (c) the wedding hall
21. 21.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) A train is three hours late (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) A boat starts to leak
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) the washroom (c) one stormy night
23. 23.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 new girl has no friends at lunch (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Sunday evening (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) the bakery
25. 25.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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
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) A lift stops between two floors (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The village well has dried up (b) the playground (c) on Annual Day
28. 28.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) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (b) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (c) A long snake was curled up near the door.
29. 29.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.
30. 30.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 wrong name is written on a cake (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) on a hot summer night
32. 32.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (b) Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you. (c) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing.
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Tuesday evening (b) his classroom (c) A boat starts to leak
34. 34.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) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
35. 35.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
36. 36.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) Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly. (b) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. (c) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall.
37. 37.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) Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen. (c) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall.
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) one foggy morning (c) the backwaters
39. 39.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) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
40. 40.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) A baby bird falls out of its nest (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) The wrong name is written on a cake

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