Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 896 · 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?
   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.
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one quiet Sunday (b) her balcony (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
3. 3.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step. (b) By noon, Aditi’s rangoli was the brightest on the street. (c) A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere.
4. 4.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) his rooftop (c) on a Wednesday evening
5. 5.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 hard word makes her mind go blank (c) A lift stops between two floors
6. 6.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.
7. 7.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) Back on land, Anjali and Appa laughed with relief. (c) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters.
8. 8.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) His running shoes are the wrong size
9. 9.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) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (b) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) Advik watched the butterfly flutter away into the sky.
10. 10.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) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. (b) His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea. (c) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd.
11. 11.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) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
12. 12.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school hall (b) The village well has dried up (c) one quiet Sunday
13. 13.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) A train is three hours late (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
14. 14.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) The village well has dried up (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The box is found under the last seat
15. 15.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) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. (b) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (c) Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right.
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Friday afternoon (b) the music room (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
17. 17.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 puppy cannot find its owner (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
18. 18.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) The microphone stops working before her song (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Sports Day (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) his classroom
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Homework is left at home (b) on a crowded evening (c) the school gate
21. 21.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
22. 22.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) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Pongal morning (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) the music room
24. 24.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
25. 25.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 lift stops between two floors (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
26. 26.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) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (c) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself.
27. 27.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) The microphone stops working before her song
28. 28.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) Kabir and Farhan cheered and went on with the game. (c) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond.
29. 29.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
30. 30.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. (b) Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly. (c) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring.
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) during a dry summer (c) Nani’s orchard
32. 32.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) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. (b) Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you. (c) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class.
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the garden shed (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) one stormy night
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) the city fair (c) on Annual Day
35. 35.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) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) They put on the spare tyre together
36. 36.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. A long snake was curled up near the door. Imran stepped back slowly and did not touch it. Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely. Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (a) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Monday morning (b) the colony park (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her building (b) one spring morning (c) The microphone stops working before her song
39. 39.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 puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
40. 40.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) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) Homework is left at home (c) A train is three hours late

Free creative writing lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/creative-writing-for-kids