Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 280 · 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?
   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) The microphone stops working before her song (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
3. 3.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) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (b) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. (c) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya.
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one summer holiday (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) the village pond
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Pongal morning (b) the highway (c) A lift stops between two floors
6. 6.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) one cloudy evening
8. 8.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) Homework is left at home (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) early one Saturday (b) the garden shed (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) the vegetable market (c) on the first day of school
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) the hill road (c) on Pongal morning
12. 12.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) The box is found under the last seat (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A train is three hours late (b) a new school (c) on a Wednesday evening
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her grandpa’s flat (b) on competition day (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) one Sunday evening (c) the washroom
16. 16.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) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
17. 17.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 torn page is mended with tape (b) A boat starts to leak (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
18. 18.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) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. (b) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (c) This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset.
19. 19.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) The microphone stops working before her song (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) The alarm button brings help
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Homework is left at home (b) one hot afternoon (c) the music school
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) the school garden (c) one misty dawn
22. 22.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 kite gets stuck high up in a tree (b) A boat starts to leak (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a tall building (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) on a long car trip
24. 24.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 blue splash is turned into a lake (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
25. 25.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) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) The window is opened to let it out
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring morning (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) Nani’s orchard
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school gate (b) on Science Day (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
28. 28.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
29. 29.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) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd. (b) His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (c) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village.
30. 30.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) A train is three hours late (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the colony park (b) one Sunday evening (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on competition day (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) his classroom
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) a lane in Kochi
34. 34.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) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. (b) Neel ran in the right shoes and came second. (c) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big!
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the backwaters (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) one stormy night
36. 36.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) A hard word makes her mind go blank
37. 37.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a festive night (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) the school library
39. 39.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.
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one quiet Sunday (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) her flat in Pune

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