Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 574 · 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 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 lift stops between two floors (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
2. 2.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) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (c) Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you.
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the art room (b) one misty dawn (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
4. 4.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) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (b) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (c) Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe.
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Homework is left at home (b) the art room (c) in the dry season
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the playground (b) early one Saturday (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) the muddy lane (c) one quiet Sunday
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school bus (b) one hot afternoon (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) early one Saturday (b) The village well has dried up (c) the school bus
10. 10.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 goat runs loose and eats the spinach (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nani’s orchard (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) on Pongal morning
12. 12.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) The village well has dried up (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
13. 13.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. (b) Rahul’s poster with the lake won first prize. (c) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room.
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) the school garden (c) The microphone stops working before her song
15. 15.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) Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly. (b) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. (c) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall.
16. 16.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 puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school hall (b) on a busy Monday (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
18. 18.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) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Pongal morning (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) the colony park
20. 20.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
21. 21.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
22. 22.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.
23. 23.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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 cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (b) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. (c) Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right.
24. 24.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) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. (b) Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed. (c) A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart.
25. 25.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) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (b) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky.
26. 26.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) on a hot summer night (c) the school hall
28. 28.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.
29. 29.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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) Homework is left at home
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Craft Day (b) the music school (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
31. 31.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) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. (b) Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters. (c) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom.
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.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) his hill village (c) one sunny morning
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one rainy morning (b) the bakery (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
35. 35.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park. (b) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. (c) By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat.
36. 36.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) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
37. 37.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 bean seed does not sprout (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
38. 38.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.
39. 39.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) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A board held up blocks the wind
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) the back yard (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window

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