Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 399 · 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) on Sports Day (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) the school bus
2. 2.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) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) A bean seed does not sprout
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the village pond (b) on a busy Monday (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
4. 4.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) By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat. (c) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two.
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one warm evening (b) A boat starts to leak (c) the washroom
6. 6.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 chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (c) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere.
7. 7.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 biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
8. 8.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) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) The alarm button brings help
9. 9.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) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
10. 10.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) When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim. (b) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (c) The old well had dried up, and people had no water.
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) one spring morning (c) the school gate
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) the village pond
13. 13.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) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (b) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely. (c) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building.
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her balcony (b) one hot afternoon (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
15. 15.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 bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A train is three hours late (b) early one Saturday (c) the music school
17. 17.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) The shoes are swapped back (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the garden shed (b) one breezy evening (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
19. 19.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) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. (c) Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home.
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a tall building (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) on Sports Day
21. 21.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) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (b) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. (c) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree.
22. 22.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
23. 23.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) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (c) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground.
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) the sports ground (c) one cloudy evening
25. 25.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) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game. (c) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water.
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Tuesday evening (b) the music room (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) the city fair (c) one cloudy evening
28. 28.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.
29. 29.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 new girl has no friends at lunch (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the science fair (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) on Sports Day
31. 31.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (b) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (c) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself.
32. 32.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bean seed does not sprout (b) the colony park (c) one quiet Sunday
34. 34.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) The window is opened to let it out (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
35. 35.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) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) Homework is left at home (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) the back yard (c) one Monday morning
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on her birthday morning (b) the railway station (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) Homework is left at home (c) Everyone sings along with her
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her building (b) on a hot summer night (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
40. 40.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 boat starts to leak (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner

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