Problem in a Story Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 3: The problem in a story · Set 999 · 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?
   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) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
2. 2.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 boat starts to leak (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
3. 3.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) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd. (b) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. (c) His sister Pema gave Tenzin the first cup of butter tea.
4. 4.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) The village well has dried up (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
5. 5.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) the washroom (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) one rainy morning
6. 6.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) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (b) Tanmay thanked Gita and kept his marble safe. (c) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain.
7. 7.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
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) By evening, Isha and Maria were best friends. (b) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (c) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school.
9. 9.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) She was too shy to sing in front of the others. (c) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school.
10. 10.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) the vegetable market (c) one spring morning
11. 11.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) the music room (c) on bake sale day
12. 12.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. (b) Aarav thanked Kiran, and the kite flew high again. (c) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree.
13. 13.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
14. 14.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
15. 15.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. (b) Ayaan reached school just as the bell rang. (c) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane.
16. 16.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) A hard word makes her mind go blank (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The box is found under the last seat
17. 17.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) Homework is left at home (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
18. 18.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
19. 19.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) on Annual Day (c) the art room
20. 20.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) one bright morning (b) a lane in Kochi (c) The microphone stops working before her song
21. 21.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 plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
22. 22.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.
23. 23.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) Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (c) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat.
24. 24.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A lift stops between two floors (b) on a long car trip (c) his rooftop
25. 25.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) his hill village (b) on the first day of school (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) one bright morning (b) the washroom (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
27. 27.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (b) the front step (c) on competition day
28. 28.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) on Sports Day (c) her grandpa’s flat
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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
30. 30.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) during a dry summer (b) her flat in Pune (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
31. 31.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) Meera shared her parathas with Tenzin to say thank you. (b) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (c) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing.
32. 32.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
33. 33.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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) The village well has dried up (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
34. 34.Read the story. Which sentence shows the problem?
    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) The train came, and Fatima had made a new friend. (b) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. (c) Her train was three hours late.
35. 35.Every story needs a problem. Which of these is a problem? (a) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) the playground (c) during a dry summer
36. 36.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 puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
37. 37.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) The window is opened to let it out (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
38. 38.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 snake is curled up in a shed (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) The torn page is mended with tape
39. 39.Read the story. What is the problem in it?
    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) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
40. 40.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) A train is three hours late

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