Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 299 · 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?
   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) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) The village well has dried up (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) A boat starts to leak (c) the playground
3. 3.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) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! (b) Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (c) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market.
4. 4.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) His running shoes are the wrong size
5. 5.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (b) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (c) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug.
6. 6.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 microphone stops working before her song (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her balcony (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) one quiet Sunday
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Wednesday evening (b) the railway station (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) the back yard
10. 10.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 tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) The village well has dried up
11. 11.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.
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her grandpa’s flat (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) on Annual Day
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) one summer holiday (c) the garden shed
14. 14.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) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
15. 15.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) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. (b) Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly. (c) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall.
16. 16.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) A boat starts to leak
17. 17.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) the front step (c) during a dry summer
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) one warm evening (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
20. 20.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) A boat starts to leak (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The village well has dried up (b) on her birthday morning (c) his hill village
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one foggy morning (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) his classroom
23. 23.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) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (b) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room.
24. 24.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. Tanmay could not reach it with his arm or a stick. His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out. Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe. (a) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) during the Christmas holidays (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
26. 26.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.
27. 27.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) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (b) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (c) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail.
28. 28.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park. (b) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. (c) By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat.
29. 29.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 baby bird falls out of its nest
30. 30.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) The microphone stops working before her song (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A lift stops between two floors (b) the backwaters (c) one spring afternoon
32. 32.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) She was too shy to sing in front of the others. (b) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school. (c) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave.
33. 33.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) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music room (b) one foggy morning (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
35. 35.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Science Day (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) the town hall
37. 37.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. (b) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan. (c) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees.
38. 38.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) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (b) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (c) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on.
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one misty dawn (b) her balcony (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
40. 40.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) By noon, Aditi’s rangoli was the brightest on the street. (b) A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere. (c) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step.

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