Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 597 · 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?
   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) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (b) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. (c) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working.
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) the school library
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on competition day (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) the school garden
4. 4.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) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) The shoes are swapped back
5. 5.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) The window is opened to let it out (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
6. 6.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) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one rainy morning (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) the hill road
8. 8.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.
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) in the dry season (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) the highway
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 snake is curled up in a shed (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A boat starts to leak
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on competition day (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) her grandpa’s flat
12. 12.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. Omkar spoke softly and put a saucer of milk nearby. The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box. (a) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
13. 13.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) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
14. 14.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) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game. (b) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (c) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond.
15. 15.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) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) Everyone sings along with her
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) a tall building
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her building (b) on the first day of school (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
18. 18.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) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (b) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (c) A long snake was curled up near the door.
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one hot afternoon (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) the school library
20. 20.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) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (c) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends.
21. 21.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
22. 22.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 bean seed does not sprout (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) The village well has dried up
23. 23.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 hard word makes her mind go blank (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one rainy morning (b) the town hall (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
25. 25.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music school (b) one misty dawn (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
27. 27.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on bake sale day (b) A boat starts to leak (c) his rooftop
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the vegetable market (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) on a Wednesday evening
30. 30.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 boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The village well has dried up
31. 31.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 blue splash is turned into a lake (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
32. 32.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) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. (c) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony.
33. 33.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) Homework is left at home
34. 34.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 baby bird falls out of its nest (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
35. 35.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) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (b) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (c) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters.
36. 36.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 rescuer carries it away safely (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
37. 37.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
38. 38.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) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan. (b) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. (c) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees.
39. 39.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school gate (b) on a Friday afternoon (c) Blue paint spills over a poster

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