Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 349 · 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.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) the washroom (c) one Monday morning
2. 2.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. (b) Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home. (c) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly.
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring afternoon (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) the music school
4. 4.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A boat starts to leak
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Sports Day (b) her building (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
6. 6.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) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. (c) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan.
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) the front step (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
8. 8.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 boat starts to leak (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
9. 9.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) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane. (c) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform.
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the art room (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) one bright morning
11. 11.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) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. (b) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. (c) Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen.
12. 12.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) A bean seed does not sprout
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) the art room (c) early one Saturday
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) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
15. 15.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) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) Homework is left at home
16. 16.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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
17. 17.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) Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you. (b) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (c) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing.
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) one quiet Sunday
19. 19.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school library (b) one Monday morning (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one stormy night (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) the school bus
22. 22.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) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
23. 23.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely. (b) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (c) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building.
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) one sunny morning (c) the school library
25. 25.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) A baby bird falls out of its nest (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) the school hall (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
27. 27.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.
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the vegetable market (b) on a crowded evening (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
29. 29.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.
30. 30.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 snake is curled up in a shed (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
31. 31.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) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A train is three hours late
32. 32.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) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
33. 33.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) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. (c) This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset.
34. 34.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.
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) on a busy Monday (c) his classroom
36. 36.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) The village well has dried up (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Monday morning (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) the sports ground
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the garden shed (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) one rainy morning
39. 39.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) Her train was three hours late. (b) The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend. (c) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station.
40. 40.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 lift stops between two floors (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window

Free creative writing lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/creative-writing-for-kids