Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 449 · 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 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) A train is three hours late (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his rooftop (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) one spring morning
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) on a hot summer night (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
4. 4.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. Aisha wrote a note and took it to the principal. Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day. Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters. (a) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Homework is left at home (b) during a dry summer (c) the bakery
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the beach (b) on competition day (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
7. 7.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) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. (c) Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly.
8. 8.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 seat of the park swing has cracked (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Pongal morning (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) Nani’s orchard
10. 10.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) A lift stops between two floors (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
11. 11.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 bean seed does not sprout (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
12. 12.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) A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere. (b) By noon, Aditi’s rangoli was the brightest on the street. (c) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step.
13. 13.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 puppy cannot find its owner (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
14. 14.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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
15. 15.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) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (b) Neel ran in the right shoes and came second. (c) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground.
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Sports Day (b) the school garden (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A hard word makes her mind go blank (b) his classroom (c) one busy morning
18. 18.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
19. 19.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.
20. 20.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) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The box is found under the last seat
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the wedding hall (b) one stormy night (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
22. 22.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on. (b) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (c) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat.
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one hot afternoon (b) the muddy lane (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
24. 24.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a tall building (b) one summer holiday (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
26. 26.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) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan. (b) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. (c) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard.
27. 27.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) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. (b) Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced. (c) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden.
28. 28.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) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
29. 29.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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 goat runs loose and eats the spinach (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
30. 30.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.
31. 31.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
32. 32.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) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (c) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game.
33. 33.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) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (b) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again. (c) He found that he had left his homework at home.
34. 34.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. Omkar spoke softly and put a saucer of milk nearby. The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box. (a) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) one Monday morning (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his hill village (b) one breezy evening (c) The village well has dried up
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) on a festive night (c) a lane in Kochi
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) during a dry summer (c) the playground
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nani’s orchard (b) A boat starts to leak (c) on a busy Monday
40. 40.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) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (b) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. (c) Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you.

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