Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 576 · 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?
   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 puppy is shivering in the cold rain
2. 2.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) Rahul’s poster with the lake won first prize. (b) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. (c) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room.
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his rooftop (b) on a crowded evening (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
4. 4.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) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
5. 5.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 village well has dried up (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
6. 6.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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) The torn page is mended with tape
7. 7.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) Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right. (b) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (c) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery.
8. 8.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
9. 9.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) A long snake was curled up near the door. (b) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (c) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed.
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) her flat in Pune
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A baby bird falls out of its nest (b) one warm evening (c) the school library
12. 12.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 lift stops between two floors
13. 13.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) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. (b) The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend. (c) Her train was three hours late.
14. 14.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on. (b) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (c) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune.
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 board held up blocks the wind (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
16. 16.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) He found that he had left his homework at home. (b) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (c) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again.
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) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (b) Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe. (c) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain.
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) one rainy morning
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 snake is curled up in a shed (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) The microphone stops working before her song
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) on bake sale day
21. 21.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) It is built higher up with a moat (b) A boat starts to leak (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring afternoon (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) the backwaters
23. 23.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) Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you. (b) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (c) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing.
24. 24.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) The alarm button brings help (c) A lift stops between two floors
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Tuesday evening (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) the school library
26. 26.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.
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) the railway station (c) on Craft Day
28. 28.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) Her model volcano will not fizz
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the front step (b) one stormy night (c) The village well has dried up
30. 30.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
31. 31.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) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
32. 32.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) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (c) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all.
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school garden (b) on Science Day (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A train is three hours late (b) the science fair (c) one quiet Sunday
35. 35.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 rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A boat starts to leak (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
36. 36.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) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
37. 37.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 boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
38. 38.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) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (b) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (c) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky.
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 puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
40. 40.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) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (b) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (c) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on.

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