Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 943 · 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 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) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (b) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. (c) Soon a green shoot peeped out, and Tara danced.
2. 2.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one warm evening (b) a lane in Kochi (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
3. 3.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
4. 4.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.
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 bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
6. 6.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) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. (b) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund. (c) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate.
7. 7.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) Zoya gave it back, and Aunt Lata thanked her warmly. (b) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. (c) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall.
8. 8.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the playground (b) one summer holiday (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
9. 9.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) The village well has dried up (b) his rooftop (c) on a festive night
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) during a dry summer (b) his hill village (c) A train is three hours late
12. 12.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) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (c) Sneha told stories until the lights came back on.
13. 13.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) the beach (c) on competition day
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the beach (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) on a hot summer night
15. 15.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the railway station (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) one spring afternoon
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the beach (b) in the dry season (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) the railway station (c) one rainy morning
20. 20.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) Riya carried home a cake with her name spelt right. (b) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. (c) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya!
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the village pond (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) on a crowded evening
22. 22.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room. (b) Rahul’s poster with the lake won first prize. (c) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere.
23. 23.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) the science fair (c) one warm evening
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the music room (b) on a Friday afternoon (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
25. 25.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
26. 26.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
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the back yard (b) A boat starts to leak (c) on a long car trip
28. 28.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) She is too shy to sing in front of others
29. 29.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) A new girl has no friends at lunch (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
30. 30.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip
31. 31.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The village well has dried up
32. 32.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) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (b) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (c) Yash was proud he had helped, and the trip went on.
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school gate (b) after the lunch bell (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
34. 34.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A board held up blocks the wind
35. 35.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Meher sang the whole song and felt brave. (b) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school. (c) She was too shy to sing in front of the others.
36. 36.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) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. (b) Simran smiled as the mother sparrow flew home. (c) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony.
37. 37.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.
38. 38.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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) The alarm button brings help (c) A lift stops between two floors
39. 39.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on the first day of school (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) the railway station
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) the school gate (c) one spring morning

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