Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 268 · 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 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) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) on Pongal morning (c) the village square
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on competition day (b) the bakery (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
4. 4.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) A lift stops between two floors (b) The alarm button brings help (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
5. 5.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 puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) during a dry summer (b) Homework is left at home (c) the railway station
7. 7.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) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (c) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail.
8. 8.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) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) the school hall
10. 10.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 microphone stops working before her song (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (b) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd. (c) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village.
12. 12.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) Rahul’s poster with the lake won first prize. (b) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room. (c) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere.
13. 13.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 window is opened to let it out (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) The village well has dried up
14. 14.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.
15. 15.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) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. (c) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund.
16. 16.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) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring afternoon (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) the playground
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on competition day (b) the village pond (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
19. 19.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.
20. 20.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) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (b) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (c) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall.
21. 21.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.
22. 22.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 baby bird falls out of its nest (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
23. 23.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.
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the wedding hall (b) on the first day of school (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the colony park (b) on Pongal morning (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one quiet Sunday (b) the vegetable market (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
27. 27.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) Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right. (b) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. (c) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya!
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) on competition day (c) the sports ground
29. 29.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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 old well had dried up, and people had no water. (b) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (c) When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim.
30. 30.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!
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) on competition day (c) the wedding hall
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the bakery (b) during a dry summer (c) A lift stops between two floors
33. 33.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) He found that he had left his homework at home. (b) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (c) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again.
34. 34.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 lift stops between two floors (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her balcony (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) on Annual Day
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) the school hall (c) one breezy evening
37. 37.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) Homework is left at home (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
38. 38.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The village well has dried up (b) the hill road (c) on her birthday morning
40. 40.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) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses

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