Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 607 · 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 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) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (b) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (c) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch.
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the town hall (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) after the lunch bell
3. 3.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) On a crowded evening, Vihaan went to the city fair. (b) In five minutes, Vihaan’s dad came running to him. (c) He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad.
4. 4.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 puppy cannot find its owner (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
5. 5.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) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
6. 6.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.
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A hard word makes her mind go blank (b) his classroom (c) one summer holiday
8. 8.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 tap keeps dripping and wasting water (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (b) the school library (c) one busy morning
10. 10.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) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. (b) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund. (c) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate.
12. 12.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) Homework is left at home (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
13. 13.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 baby bird falls out of its nest (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
14. 14.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) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. (c) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring.
15. 15.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.
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Tuesday evening (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) her balcony
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring afternoon (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) the school garden
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her balcony (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) on the first day of school
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the back yard (b) on Craft Day (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one breezy evening (b) the beach (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
21. 21.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
22. 22.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) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (c) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat.
23. 23.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) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Friday afternoon (b) The village well has dried up (c) the railway station
25. 25.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) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely. (b) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. (c) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors.
26. 26.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school hall (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) on a Wednesday evening
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one stormy night (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) the hill road
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one summer holiday (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) his classroom
30. 30.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 rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) the playground (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one summer holiday (b) a lane in Kochi (c) The microphone stops working before her song
33. 33.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) Her train was three hours late. (b) The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend. (c) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station.
34. 34.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) A boat starts to leak (b) The alarm button brings help (c) A lift stops between two floors
35. 35.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
36. 36.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 microphone stops working before her song
37. 37.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) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (c) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library.
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the village square (b) during a dry summer (c) A boat starts to leak
39. 39.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) She was too shy to sing in front of the others. (b) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave. (c) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school.
40. 40.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.

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