Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 208 · 40 questions

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.

1. 1.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
   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 baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
2. 2.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A snake is curled up in a shed” (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
3. 3.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Her model volcano will not fizz” (a) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
4. 4.Read the story. How is the problem 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) The wrong name is written on a cake (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
5. 5.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
   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) A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy. (b) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (c) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building.
6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A baby bird falls out of its nest” (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
7. 7.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane. (b) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. (c) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big!
8. 8.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) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate. (b) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie. (c) Her friend Zubin rang a bell to call people over.
9. 9.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
   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) Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day. (b) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. (c) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom.
10. 10.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 window is opened to let it out (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
11. 11.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “An aunt loses a gold earring” (a) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
12. 12.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
13. 13.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) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. (b) The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. (c) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank.
14. 14.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
15. 15.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The lights go out and her little brother cries” (a) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
16. 16.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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 baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. (b) Dadi held the stool while she put it back in the nest. (c) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony.
17. 17.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) The seat of the park swing has cracked (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
18. 18.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “His running shoes are the wrong size” (a) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
19. 19.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
20. 20.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Nobody buys anything from the stall” (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
22. 22.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) Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing. (b) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (c) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery.
23. 23.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy has torn a page of a library book” (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
24. 24.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 carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
25. 25.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) The torn page is mended with tape
26. 26.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kitten is stuck behind a water tank” (a) The alarm button brings help (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) The torn page is mended with tape
27. 27.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 baby bird falls out of its nest (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
28. 28.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
29. 29.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses” (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
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) A train is three hours late (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
31. 31.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “She is too shy to sing in front of others” (a) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) Everyone sings along with her
32. 32.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A hard word makes her mind go blank” (a) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
33. 33.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) They put on the spare tyre together (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The microphone stops working before her song
34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mud splashes all over a white uniform” (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) The torn page is mended with tape
35. 35.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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
36. 36.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A car tyre goes flat on a long trip” (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
37. 37.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) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) The alarm button brings help
38. 38.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tap keeps dripping and wasting water” (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) The shoes are swapped back
40. 40.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (b) Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. (c) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune.

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