Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 871 · 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) Nani’s orchard (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) on a Wednesday evening
2. 2.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 butterfly is trapped at a window (c) The shoes are swapped back
3. 3.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) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) The window is opened to let it out
4. 4.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.
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the village pond (b) on the first day of school (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
6. 6.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 marble rolls into a deep drain (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
7. 7.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) the bakery (c) Homework is left at home
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the washroom (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) one windy afternoon
9. 9.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (b) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on. (c) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway.
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) her building (c) one spring morning
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) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
12. 12.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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 tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. (b) Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters. (c) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom.
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) one Monday morning (c) the hill road
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) a new school (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) on Annual Day
15. 15.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one bright morning (b) the beach (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
17. 17.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) A lift stops between two floors (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A boat starts to leak
18. 18.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 tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
19. 19.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.
20. 20.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) Homework is left at home
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one summer holiday (b) The village well has dried up (c) a tall building
22. 22.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 chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (c) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere.
23. 23.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
24. 24.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) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) A lift stops between two floors
25. 25.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) On a crowded evening, Vihaan went to the city fair. (b) In five minutes, Vihaan’s dad came running to him. (c) He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad.
26. 26.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) A bean seed does not sprout (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the highway (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) on a Wednesday evening
28. 28.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. Nisha recalled the rhyme Mrs Sen had taught her. She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen. (a) A hard word makes her mind go blank (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
29. 29.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) A lift stops between two floors (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one stormy night (b) Nani’s orchard (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one quiet Sunday (b) the school gate (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
32. 32.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.
33. 33.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 butterfly is trapped at a window (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the back yard (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) on a festive night
35. 35.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) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring morning (b) the garden shed (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
37. 37.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school gate (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) one quiet Sunday
39. 39.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 butterfly is trapped at a window (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
40. 40.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) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) A train is three hours late

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