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Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 196 · 40 questions
TalentJR

Writer's tip (Problem → solution): First find the problem. Then find the part where the problem is fixed — usually the sentence just before the ending. The solution must fix THIS problem; a fix for something else does not count.

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  1. 1.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The microphone stops working before her song”
    (a) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The window is opened to let it out
  2. 2.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park. (b) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. (c) Mrs Rao gave them a strong plank and some rope.
  3. 3.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy is shivering in the cold rain”
    (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
  4. 4.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A hard word makes her mind go blank”
    (a) The box is found under the last seat (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
  5. 5.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) Her friend Zubin rang a bell to call people over. (b) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate. (c) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie.
  6. 6.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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 baby bird is put back in the nest (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
  7. 7.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (b) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (c) His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out.
  8. 8.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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 blue splash is turned into a lake
  9. 9.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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 pot is moved into the sunshine (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
  10. 10.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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 biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) A baby bird falls out of its nest (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
  11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. (c) Mr Das, a kind farmer, showed him how to fix it.
  12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kite gets stuck high up in a tree”
    (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  13. 13.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. (b) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (c) He helped her move the pot into the sunshine.
  14. 14.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) It is built higher up with a moat
  15. 15.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Her model volcano will not fizz”
    (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
  16. 16.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  17. 17.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free. (c) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree.
  18. 18.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
  19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “She is too shy to sing in front of others”
    (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) Everyone sings along with her
  20. 20.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  21. 21.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (b) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. (c) The red box was hiding under the very last seat.
  22. 22.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) A lift stops between two floors (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) The alarm button brings help
  23. 23.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. (b) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. (c) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank.
  24. 24.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) The shoes are swapped back
  25. 25.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall. (b) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (c) She sang so loudly that everyone could hear her.
  26. 26.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) The village well has dried up (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
  27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The lights go out and her little brother cries”
    (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  28. 28.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  29. 29.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) The box is found under the last seat (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
  30. 30.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) A train is three hours late (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
  31. 31.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (b) The old well had dried up, and people had no water. (c) Raju and the others dug every evening for a month.
  32. 32.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  33. 33.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “An aunt loses a gold earring”
    (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  34. 34.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. (b) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (c) Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing.
  35. 35.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill”
    (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
  36. 36.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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 rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) Homework is left at home
  37. 37.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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 bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The box is found under the last seat
  38. 38.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) He tied a basket to a stick and scooped the ball out. (c) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond.
  39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “His running shoes are the wrong size”
    (a) The blue splash is turned into a lake (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
  40. 40.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely

Answer key

  1. She sings loudly without a microphone
  2. Mrs Rao gave them a strong plank and some rope.
  3. A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
  4. A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  5. Her friend Zubin rang a bell to call people over.
  6. The glasses are found on top of his head
  7. His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out.
  8. Everyone sings along with her
  9. The torn page is mended with tape
  10. The baby bird is put back in the nest
  11. Mr Das, a kind farmer, showed him how to fix it.
  12. A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
  13. He helped her move the pot into the sunshine.
  14. It is built higher up with a moat
  15. Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  16. Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  17. His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free.
  18. The blue splash is turned into a lake
  19. Everyone sings along with her
  20. They put on the spare tyre together
  21. The red box was hiding under the very last seat.
  22. The alarm button brings help
  23. The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk.
  24. The shoes are swapped back
  25. She sang so loudly that everyone could hear her.
  26. A pond is dug to catch the rain
  27. Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  28. A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  29. Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  30. Solving puzzles together passes the time
  31. Raju and the others dug every evening for a month.
  32. She sings loudly without a microphone
  33. The earring is found beside a flower stand
  34. Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing.
  35. A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  36. He is allowed to bring it the next day
  37. The box is found under the last seat
  38. He tied a basket to a stick and scooped the ball out.
  39. The shoes are swapped back
  40. A snake rescuer carries it away safely

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