Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 624 · 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 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) Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box. (b) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. (c) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop.
2. 2.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now. (b) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. (c) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road.
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) during the Christmas holidays (c) the art room
4. 4.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) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. (b) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. (c) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan.
5. 5.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) A baby bird falls out of its nest (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
6. 6.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 car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) The village well has dried up (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
7. 7.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) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
8. 8.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.
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) on bake sale day
10. 10.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) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail. (c) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building.
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the town hall (b) on Annual Day (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a tall building (b) on Science Day (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) after the lunch bell (c) the village pond
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) on the first day of school (c) the garden shed
15. 15.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
16. 16.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) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
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) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (b) Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe. (c) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard.
18. 18.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) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. (c) The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend.
19. 19.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
20. 20.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! Manav ran after the goat and held out a carrot. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (a) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) on competition day
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a crowded evening (b) the back yard (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
23. 23.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 lift stops between two floors (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
24. 24.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.
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the art room (b) one windy afternoon (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) one windy afternoon (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a lane in Kochi (b) one spring morning (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
28. 28.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 baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
29. 29.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) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
30. 30.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) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her building (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) on a busy Monday
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) the front step (c) one foggy morning
33. 33.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 car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
34. 34.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) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
35. 35.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! Manav ran after the goat and held out a carrot. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (a) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! (b) Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (c) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market.
36. 36.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 baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a tall building (b) A train is three hours late (c) on Sports Day
38. 38.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 kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the colony park (b) one windy afternoon (c) The village well has dried up
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one hot afternoon (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) the muddy lane

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