Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 534 · 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?
   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) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
2. 2.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. Kavya took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. She sang so loudly that everyone could hear her. Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (a) The microphone stops working before her song (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
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) The torn page is mended with tape (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
4. 4.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) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
5. 5.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) A boat starts to leak (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
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) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (b) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (c) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug.
7. 7.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 marble rolls into a deep drain (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
8. 8.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
9. 9.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.
10. 10.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. Anjali pressed her rubber slipper hard over the crack. Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there. Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (a) A boat starts to leak (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school hall (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) one busy morning
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) the garden shed (c) on a festive night
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one summer holiday (b) the city fair (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) one foggy morning
15. 15.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) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A board held up blocks the wind
16. 16.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. (b) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! (c) Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks.
17. 17.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 train is three hours late (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) one windy afternoon (c) the muddy lane
19. 19.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.
20. 20.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) Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe. (b) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (c) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard.
21. 21.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.
22. 22.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) She was too shy to sing in front of the others. (c) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave.
23. 23.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) The microphone stops working before her song (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
24. 24.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 snake is curled up in a shed (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) the sports ground
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one warm evening (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) Nani’s orchard
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) his classroom (c) on her birthday morning
28. 28.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.
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A hard word makes her mind go blank (b) the hill road (c) during the Christmas holidays
30. 30.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.
31. 31.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
32. 32.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one misty dawn (b) the muddy lane (c) The microphone stops working before her song
34. 34.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 boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) after the lunch bell (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) the school gate
36. 36.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) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. (b) His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (c) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd.
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a lane in Kochi (b) during a dry summer (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
38. 38.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) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. (b) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (c) Neel ran in the right shoes and came second.
39. 39.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) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) the beach (c) one summer holiday

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