Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 725 · 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?
   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) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her flat in Pune (b) one foggy morning (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
3. 3.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
4. 4.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) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
5. 5.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right. (b) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (c) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery.
6. 6.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 lift stops between two floors (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the city fair (b) on competition day (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the city fair (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) on a festive night
9. 9.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.
10. 10.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) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
11. 11.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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
12. 12.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) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (c) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building.
13. 13.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
14. 14.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) The village well has dried up (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
15. 15.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 new girl has no friends at lunch (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
16. 16.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) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school. (b) She was too shy to sing in front of the others. (c) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave.
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) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The microphone stops working before her song
18. 18.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) on a Tuesday evening (c) the music school
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his rooftop (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) one summer holiday
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) during the Christmas holidays (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) the city fair
22. 22.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane. A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. Ayaan ran home and told Maa what had happened. Maa quickly gave him a clean spare uniform. Ayaan reached school just as the bell rang. (a) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
23. 23.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) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate. (b) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. (c) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund.
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) during the Christmas holidays (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) Nani’s orchard
25. 25.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) Everyone sings along with her (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
26. 26.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 car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
27. 27.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) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (b) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on. (c) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune.
28. 28.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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 had been mixed up, and they were too big! (b) Neel ran in the right shoes and came second. (c) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground.
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music school (b) one summer holiday (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
30. 30.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) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The shoes are swapped back
31. 31.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) This time Maria’s castle stood tall until sunset. (b) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (c) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach.
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.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Sports Day (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) the colony park
34. 34.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) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (b) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (c) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug.
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) the wedding hall (c) on Pongal morning
36. 36.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) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (c) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat.
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The village well has dried up (b) the playground (c) on Science Day
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Wednesday evening (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) Nani’s orchard
39. 39.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) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (b) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself. (c) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library.
40. 40.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) Homework is left at home (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat

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