Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 729 · 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?
   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) By noon, Ishaan was swinging high on the new seat. (b) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. (c) Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park.
2. 2.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
3. 3.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) He found that he had left his homework at home. (b) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (c) Aryan made a checklist so he would never forget again.
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one busy morning (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) a tall building
5. 5.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a busy Monday (b) a lane in Kochi (c) A boat starts to leak
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) on a crowded evening (c) a new school
8. 8.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) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail. (b) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (c) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building.
9. 9.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) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
10. 10.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) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game. (b) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (c) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond.
11. 11.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. Tara asked Mr Nair, the gardener, what was wrong. He helped her move the pot into the sunshine. Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced. (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) A bean seed does not sprout
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) the beach (c) one quiet Sunday
13. 13.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) The torn page is mended with tape
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) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (b) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on. (c) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried.
15. 15.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the science fair (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) one breezy evening
16. 16.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) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky. (c) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room.
17. 17.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) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (b) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (c) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief.
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Tuesday evening (b) the art room (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the science fair (b) one quiet Sunday (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one windy afternoon (b) the bakery (c) The microphone stops working before her song
21. 21.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) A boat starts to leak (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
22. 22.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) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (c) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed.
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) one hot afternoon (c) the science fair
24. 24.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 has torn a page of a library book
25. 25.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) A baby bird falls out of its nest (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
26. 26.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) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund. (c) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie.
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 new girl has no friends at lunch (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
28. 28.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 wrong name is written on a cake (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A board held up blocks the wind
29. 29.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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 strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (b) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (c) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground.
30. 30.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. (b) A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. (c) Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed.
31. 31.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) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one foggy morning (b) her building (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the colony park (b) one misty dawn (c) A bean seed does not sprout
34. 34.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.
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Monday morning (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) the school garden
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) the front step (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the back yard (b) on Annual Day (c) A lift stops between two floors
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) on a hot summer night (c) the school hall
39. 39.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 strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
40. 40.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.

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