Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 90 · 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) after the lunch bell (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) his rooftop
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one bright morning (b) the garden shed (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
3. 3.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) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) The shoes are swapped back
4. 4.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) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The village well has dried up (b) the colony park (c) one cloudy evening
6. 6.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.
7. 7.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) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
8. 8.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.
9. 9.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) Everyone sings along with her
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the garden shed (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) after the lunch bell
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her flat in Pune (b) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) early one Saturday
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) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. (b) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (c) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely.
13. 13.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 box is found under the last seat (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Sunday evening (b) Homework is left at home (c) the school gate
15. 15.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.
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Wednesday evening (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) the playground
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) his rooftop (c) one quiet Sunday
18. 18.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 butterfly is trapped at a window
19. 19.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 boat starts to leak (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
20. 20.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Imran learnt that snakes should be left to experts. (b) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (c) A long snake was curled up near the door.
21. 21.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) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on. (b) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (c) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat.
22. 22.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one stormy night (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) a tall building
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bean seed does not sprout (b) the hill road (c) after the lunch bell
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) one misty dawn (c) his classroom
26. 26.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
27. 27.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) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Sunday evening (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) the music school
29. 29.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a busy Monday (b) the backwaters (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
30. 30.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 tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
31. 31.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) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) the muddy lane (c) on Annual Day
33. 33.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 name is called on the loudspeaker (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) the garden shed (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
35. 35.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.
36. 36.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 earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
37. 37.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Sunday evening (b) the washroom (c) A train is three hours late
38. 38.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 new girl has no friends at lunch (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his hill village (b) on her birthday morning (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
40. 40.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing

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