Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 970 · 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. 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 bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) The torn page is mended with tape
2. 2.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.
3. 3.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) in the dry season (c) Nani’s orchard
4. 4.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
5. 5.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.
6. 6.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.
7. 7.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.
8. 8.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
9. 9.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
   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) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. (b) Nisha won the silver cup and thanked Mrs Sen. (c) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”.
10. 10.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Pooja waved goodbye as Rocky wagged his tail. (b) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (c) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building.
11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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 tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. (b) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. (c) Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed.
12. 12.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.
13. 13.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. Kavya took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. She sang so loudly that everyone could hear her. Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (a) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (b) Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (c) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall.
14. 14.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one Monday morning (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) the music school
15. 15.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) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
16. 16.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the school library (b) one spring morning (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
17. 17.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on Annual Day (b) the music school (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
18. 18.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on a busy Monday (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) the railway station
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) her balcony (c) on her birthday morning
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) in the dry season (b) A train is three hours late (c) the science fair
21. 21.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) on her birthday morning (b) the front step (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
22. 22.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) Soon Kiara had sold every cookie for the library fund. (b) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. (c) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate.
23. 23.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. Omkar spoke softly and put a saucer of milk nearby. The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box. (a) Omkar named her Pixie and gave her a cosy box. (b) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. (c) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank.
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the village square (b) on a Tuesday evening (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) on a crowded evening
26. 26.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 goat runs loose and eats the spinach (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A lift stops between two floors (b) on a Tuesday evening (c) the school library
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the muddy lane (b) one spring morning (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
29. 29.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) on Annual Day
30. 30.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) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (b) Dev mended the page neatly and felt proud of himself. (c) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed.
31. 31.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her flat in Pune (b) one breezy evening (c) The village well has dried up
32. 32.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 rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A boat starts to leak (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
33. 33.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A boat starts to leak (b) one windy afternoon (c) her balcony
34. 34.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one summer holiday (b) the town hall (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
35. 35.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. Kavya took a deep breath and stepped onto the stage. She sang so loudly that everyone could hear her. Imran and the whole hall clapped for Kavya. (a) The microphone stops working before her song (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
36. 36.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (b) one quiet Sunday (c) the town hall
37. 37.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A snake is curled up in a shed
38. 38.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) her flat in Pune (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) one Monday morning
39. 39.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks. (b) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! (c) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market.
40. 40.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one sunny morning (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) the wedding hall

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