Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 569 · 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. 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) Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home. (b) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. (c) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly.
2. 2.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) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself. (b) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (c) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed.
3. 3.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) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. (b) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan. (c) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees.
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on bake sale day (b) her building (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (b) the school garden (c) on Pongal morning
6. 6.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.
7. 7.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) her grandpa’s flat
9. 9.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
10. 10.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) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The microphone stops working before her song
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Sports Day (b) the town hall (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the garden shed (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) one cloudy evening
13. 13.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 new girl has no friends at lunch (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A train is three hours late (b) on a Tuesday evening (c) the back yard
15. 15.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) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (b) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (c) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch.
16. 16.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) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (c) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely.
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) A boat starts to leak (c) on Sports Day
18. 18.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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
19. 19.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) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Science Day (b) The village well has dried up (c) her building
21. 21.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. (b) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (c) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working.
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) early one Saturday (c) Nani’s orchard
23. 23.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 chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (b) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (c) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat.
24. 24.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) The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend. (b) Her train was three hours late. (c) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station.
25. 25.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) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) on a long car trip
27. 27.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) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd. (b) His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (c) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village.
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her balcony (b) one bright morning (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
29. 29.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
30. 30.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) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (b) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (c) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail.
31. 31.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 bird falls out of its nest (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
32. 32.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) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
33. 33.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 snake is curled up in a shed (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
34. 34.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) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (b) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize. (c) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened.
35. 35.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.
36. 36.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On a crowded evening, Vihaan went to the city fair. He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad. Vihaan stayed calm and went to a lady in uniform. Officer Kaur called his name on the loudspeaker. In five minutes, Vihaan’s dad came running to him. (a) He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad. (b) On a crowded evening, Vihaan went to the city fair. (c) In five minutes, Vihaan’s dad came running to him.
37. 37.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (b) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (c) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief.
38. 38.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 kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one quiet Sunday (b) his hill village (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Sunday evening (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) the village pond

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