Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 525 · 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 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 kite gets stuck high up in a tree (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
2. 2.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.
3. 3.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) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) The torn page is mended with tape
4. 4.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) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (b) A long snake was curled up near the door. (c) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts.
5. 5.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) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. (b) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (c) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree.
6. 6.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 bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
7. 7.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) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
8. 8.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed. (b) A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. (c) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi.
9. 9.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) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (b) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on. (c) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway.
10. 10.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 box is found under the last seat (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
11. 11.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) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. (b) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (c) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize.
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the beach (b) The village well has dried up (c) after the lunch bell
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one warm evening (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) the school library
14. 14.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
15. 15.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
16. 16.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
17. 17.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (b) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (c) Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe.
18. 18.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) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (b) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room.
19. 19.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 baby bird falls out of its nest (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) A train is three hours late
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the back yard (b) one misty dawn (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
21. 21.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) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (b) When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim. (c) The old well had dried up, and people had no water.
22. 22.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.
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) the garden shed (c) on Annual Day
24. 24.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.
25. 25.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) Homework is left at home (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) the school gate (c) during a dry summer
27. 27.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A boat starts to leak (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
28. 28.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) They put on the spare tyre together (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) one bright morning (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
30. 30.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
31. 31.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.
32. 32.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail. (b) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (c) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby.
33. 33.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 bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
34. 34.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) A train is three hours late
35. 35.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) The village well has dried up (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school library (b) Homework is left at home (c) one hot afternoon
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one breezy evening (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) the school hall
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring afternoon (b) her flat in Pune (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
39. 39.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.
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) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. (b) Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you. (c) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class.

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