Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 927 · 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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) the colony park (c) on a crowded evening
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) on a long car trip (c) the playground
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a festive night (b) the colony park (c) A bean seed does not sprout
4. 4.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) This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize. (b) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (c) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened.
5. 5.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
6. 6.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nani’s orchard (b) one foggy morning (c) The microphone stops working before her song
7. 7.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) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
8. 8.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.
9. 9.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the hill road (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) one spring morning
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a festive night (b) the village square (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
11. 11.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) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (c) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on.
12. 12.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! Manav ran after the goat and held out a carrot. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (a) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) one windy afternoon (c) the backwaters
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a Wednesday evening (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) the school library
15. 15.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) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (b) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (c) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug.
16. 16.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
17. 17.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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 kite gets stuck high up in a tree (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) one misty dawn (c) the washroom
19. 19.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 snake is curled up in a shed (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
20. 20.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.
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school library (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) one cloudy evening
22. 22.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one bright morning (b) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) the washroom
23. 23.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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one spring morning (b) her building (c) The village well has dried up
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music room (b) during a dry summer (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
26. 26.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A lift stops between two floors (b) one warm evening (c) the vegetable market
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one bright morning (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) the school hall
28. 28.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) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) The village well has dried up
29. 29.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
30. 30.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) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
31. 31.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) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (b) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (c) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch.
32. 32.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one hot afternoon (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) the science fair
33. 33.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) Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters. (b) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. (c) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom.
34. 34.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) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) It is built higher up with a moat
35. 35.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. (b) Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home. (c) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly.
36. 36.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) Soon the doors opened, and Sahil stepped out safely. (c) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors.
37. 37.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 boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) early one Saturday (b) the garden shed (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
39. 39.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) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) Homework is left at home
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A baby bird falls out of its nest (b) a lane in Kochi (c) one busy morning

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