Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 713 · 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) his hill village (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) one foggy morning
2. 2.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
   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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
3. 3.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 puppy cannot find its owner (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
4. 4.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. (b) This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (c) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away.
5. 5.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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A boat starts to leak
6. 6.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) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
7. 7.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) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. (c) Rohan rode on, proud that he could fix a chain now.
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one rainy morning (b) the school bus (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Tuesday evening (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) her balcony
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one cloudy evening (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) the school library
11. 11.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) They put on the spare tyre together (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
12. 12.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) early one Saturday
14. 14.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 puppy is shivering in the cold rain
15. 15.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) Homework is left at home
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the garden shed (b) on Craft Day (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one foggy morning (b) her flat in Pune (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one rainy morning (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) the music room
19. 19.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) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) Everyone sings along with her
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 goat runs loose and eats the spinach (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) The village well has dried up
21. 21.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) The village well has dried up (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
22. 22.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) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (b) He found that he had left his homework at home. (c) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again.
23. 23.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) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) A baby bird falls out of its nest
24. 24.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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 butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (b) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (c) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky.
25. 25.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) The microphone stops working before her song (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
26. 26.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 wrong name is written on a cake (c) The village well has dried up
27. 27.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) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (b) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (c) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself.
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the city fair (b) early one Saturday (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring afternoon (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) the back yard
30. 30.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) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
31. 31.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.
32. 32.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.
33. 33.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) A train is three hours late
34. 34.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) Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you. (b) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. (c) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class.
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) the highway (c) one foggy morning
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) the music school (c) one sunny morning
37. 37.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) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) A train is three hours late (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
38. 38.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) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) The microphone stops working before her song
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. 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) A board held up blocks the wind (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) An aunt loses a gold earring

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