Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 629 · 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 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) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
2. 2.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) one quiet Sunday (c) her flat in Pune
4. 4.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) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
5. 5.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) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. (b) Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now. (c) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road.
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A lift stops between two floors (b) the hill road (c) on a crowded evening
7. 7.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) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) Homework is left at home
8. 8.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (b) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (c) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere.
9. 9.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) The shoes are swapped back
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one busy morning (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) the school bus
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) the school library
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nani’s orchard (b) on Annual Day (c) Homework is left at home
13. 13.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
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. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (b) The old well had dried up, and people had no water. (c) When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim.
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the playground (b) on a hot summer night (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
17. 17.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.
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the town hall (b) one stormy night (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
19. 19.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) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the village square (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) on Science Day
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) the school library (c) during a dry summer
22. 22.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.
23. 23.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a lane in Kochi (b) after the lunch bell (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
25. 25.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) The village well has dried up (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
26. 26.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) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (b) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. (c) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize.
27. 27.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on competition day (b) the sports ground (c) A bean seed does not sprout
29. 29.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
30. 30.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) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (c) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school.
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school gate (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) on a Tuesday evening
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The microphone stops working before her song (b) one spring afternoon (c) the muddy lane
33. 33.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries
34. 34.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
35. 35.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 puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) The alarm button brings help (c) A lift stops between two floors
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the sports ground (b) during a dry summer (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school garden (b) one stormy night (c) The lights go out and her little brother cries
38. 38.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
39. 39.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.
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) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. (b) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. (c) Priya and Nani laughed at the clever plan.

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