Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 285 · 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?
   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) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (c) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall.
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one misty dawn (b) her building (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
3. 3.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) It is built higher up with a moat (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) his hill village (c) on a crowded evening
5. 5.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
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 music school (c) on Craft Day
7. 7.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her balcony (b) on Sports Day (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
9. 9.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.
10. 10.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) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (b) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (c) A long snake was curled up near the door.
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Craft Day (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) a tall building
12. 12.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize. (b) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (c) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened.
13. 13.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one stormy night (b) his hill village (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) on a Friday afternoon
16. 16.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 rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
17. 17.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) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. (c) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off.
18. 18.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
19. 19.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) Neel ran in the right shoes and came second. (b) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. (c) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big!
20. 20.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) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (b) This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (c) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach.
21. 21.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.
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) early one Saturday (b) the science fair (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
23. 23.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) Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (b) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. (c) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach!
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the village pond (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) on Sports Day
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) the village pond (c) one misty dawn
26. 26.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 wrong name is written on a cake (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
27. 27.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) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on her birthday morning (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) the music room
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) in the dry season (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) the village pond
30. 30.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) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her balcony (b) on a festive night (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music school (b) one sunny morning (c) A bean seed does not sprout
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) her flat in Pune (c) one breezy evening
34. 34.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.
35. 35.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced. (b) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (c) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all.
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the colony park (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) on Pongal morning
37. 37.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) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (b) The old well had dried up, and people had no water. (c) When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim.
38. 38.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) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
39. 39.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) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (c) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again.
40. 40.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) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak

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