Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 695 · 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.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on competition day (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) the school garden
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring afternoon (b) the school library (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the playground (b) on Annual Day (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
4. 4.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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
5. 5.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) By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat. (c) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two.
6. 6.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 earring is found beside a flower stand (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) the beach
8. 8.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 bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
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) The shoes are swapped back (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
10. 10.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) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again. (b) He found that he had left his homework at home. (c) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom.
11. 11.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) The alarm button brings help (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) A lift stops between two floors
12. 12.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
13. 13.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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
14. 14.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. A baby yak had wandered away from the herd. Tenzin followed its hoofprints down the muddy path. He found it by a stream and gently led it back. His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (a) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) Nani’s orchard (c) on a long car trip
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) on a festive night (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
17. 17.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
18. 18.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) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) It is built higher up with a moat
19. 19.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 pond is dug to catch the rain (b) The village well has dried up (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
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) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (b) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (c) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school.
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) a lane in Kochi (c) on Sports Day
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) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (b) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (c) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters.
23. 23.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) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
24. 24.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) When the rains came, Lakshmi’s pond filled to the brim. (c) The old well had dried up, and people had no water.
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Pongal morning (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) the school garden
26. 26.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.
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the colony park (b) after the lunch bell (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
28. 28.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. A baby yak had wandered away from the herd. Tenzin followed its hoofprints down the muddy path. He found it by a stream and gently led it back. His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (a) His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (b) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. (c) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd.
29. 29.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 baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
30. 30.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.
31. 31.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.
32. 32.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
33. 33.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) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (b) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond. (c) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game.
34. 34.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) one stormy night (c) the town hall
36. 36.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 puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) the school library (c) on Pongal morning
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) on a Wednesday evening (c) the colony park
39. 39.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) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (b) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. (c) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya.
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a festive night (b) her building (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform

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