Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 383 · 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 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.
2. 2.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.
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) the bakery (c) on a festive night
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on her birthday morning (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) the back yard
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) the school garden (c) A lift stops between two floors
6. 6.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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 carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) A train is three hours late (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
7. 7.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
8. 8.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) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one misty dawn (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) the backwaters
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the city fair (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) in the dry season
11. 11.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) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (b) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (c) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat.
12. 12.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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) The torn page is mended with tape
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the village square (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) one summer holiday
14. 14.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) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. (c) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd.
15. 15.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) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. (b) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. (c) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan.
16. 16.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.
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her balcony (b) in the dry season (c) Homework is left at home
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one stormy night (b) his classroom (c) A train is three hours late
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) the front step
20. 20.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.
21. 21.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
22. 22.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) A lift stops between two floors (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
23. 23.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one quiet Sunday (b) the back yard (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the science fair (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) on a busy Monday
26. 26.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) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. (b) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate. (c) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund.
27. 27.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) a lane in Kochi
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the garden shed (b) on a crowded evening (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
29. 29.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) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) Homework is left at home (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
30. 30.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 new girl has no friends at lunch (c) The village well has dried up
31. 31.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) A long snake was curled up near the door. (b) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (c) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts.
32. 32.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) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on. (b) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (c) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried.
33. 33.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) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game. (b) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond. (c) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water.
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one stormy night (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) the bakery
35. 35.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) A bean seed does not sprout (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
36. 36.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.
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a tall building (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) one Monday morning
38. 38.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) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (b) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (c) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window.
39. 39.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 lights go out and her little brother cries (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) her building (c) on a Friday afternoon

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