Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 485 · 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 a Wednesday evening (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) her grandpa’s flat
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A train is three hours late (b) on Sports Day (c) the village pond
3. 3.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) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one stormy night (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) the highway
5. 5.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
6. 6.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) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school. (b) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave. (c) She was too shy to sing in front of the others.
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 snake is curled up in a shed
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the highway (b) on Craft Day (c) The microphone stops working before her song
9. 9.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (b) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (c) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch.
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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) The village well has dried up (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
11. 11.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) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step. (c) By noon, Aditi’s rangoli was the brightest on the street.
12. 12.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) Everyone sings along with her (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
13. 13.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) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. (b) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. (c) Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home.
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) during the Christmas holidays (b) the school bus (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the colony park (b) one Monday morning (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
16. 16.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 boat starts to leak (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
17. 17.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize. (b) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (c) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened.
18. 18.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 boy gets lost in a big crowd
19. 19.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 new girl has no friends at lunch (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
20. 20.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) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund. (b) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. (c) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate.
21. 21.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) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane. (b) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. (c) Ayaan reached school just as the bell rang.
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the back yard (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) one sunny morning
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) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. (b) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely. (c) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors.
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) on Sports Day (c) Homework is left at home
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) one spring afternoon (c) the beach
26. 26.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) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
27. 27.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) A train is three hours late (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
28. 28.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) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again. (b) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (c) He found that he had left his homework at home.
29. 29.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) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
30. 30.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) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one warm evening (b) his classroom (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
32. 32.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) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (b) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. (c) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again.
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) This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (b) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (c) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach.
34. 34.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. (b) Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters. (c) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted.
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Monday morning (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) the playground
36. 36.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) Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced. (b) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. (c) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden.
37. 37.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
38. 38.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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
39. 39.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) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The box is found under the last seat
40. 40.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond

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