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Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 257 · 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 village well has dried up”
    (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
  2. 2.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kitten is stuck behind a water tank”
    (a) Everyone sings along with her (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
  3. 3.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) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) Homework is left at home (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  4. 4.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    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) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. (b) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (c) Joseph brought her fresh baking soda from the lab.
  5. 5.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boat starts to leak”
    (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) They put on the spare tyre together
  6. 6.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) Everyone sings along with her
  7. 7.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) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (b) A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy. (c) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building.
  8. 8.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) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
  9. 9.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 carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) A train is three hours late
  10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby bird falls out of its nest”
    (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
  11. 11.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tap keeps dripping and wasting water”
    (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
  12. 12.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.
  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. 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) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (b) His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out. (c) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain.
  15. 15.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) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) The village well has dried up
  16. 16.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) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
  17. 17.Read the story. How is the problem 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) The window is opened to let it out (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
  18. 18.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) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. (b) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (c) The red box was hiding under the very last seat.
  19. 19.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. (b) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room. (c) They turned the big blue splash into a lake.
  20. 20.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (b) Ms Fernandes smiled and showed him how to tape it. (c) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed.
  21. 21.Read the story. How is the problem 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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  22. 22.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) The seat of the park swing has cracked (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  23. 23.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. (b) The earring was shining beside the flower stand. (c) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring.
  24. 24.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) Everyone sings along with her (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
  25. 25.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill”
    (a) Everyone sings along with her (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  26. 26.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) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
  27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A snake is curled up in a shed”
    (a) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  28. 28.Read the story. How is the problem 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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
  29. 29.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster”
    (a) The blue splash is turned into a lake (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
  30. 30.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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 could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (b) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (c) At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head!
  31. 31.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out. (b) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (c) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach.
  32. 32.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) A butterfly is trapped at a window (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) The shoes are swapped back
  33. 33.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) The old well had dried up, and people had no water. (b) Raju and the others dug every evening for a month. (c) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square.
  34. 34.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  35. 35.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) A hard word makes her mind go blank (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
  36. 36.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A lift stops between two floors”
    (a) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) The alarm button brings help (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
  37. 37.Read the story. How is the problem 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 puppy cannot find its owner (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
  38. 38.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A goat runs loose and eats the spinach”
    (a) The blue splash is turned into a lake (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  40. 40.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Nobody buys anything from the stall”
    (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers

Answer key

  1. A pond is dug to catch the rain
  2. A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
  3. He is allowed to bring it the next day
  4. Joseph brought her fresh baking soda from the lab.
  5. A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  6. Everyone sings along with her
  7. A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy.
  8. The earring is found beside a flower stand
  9. Solving puzzles together passes the time
  10. The baby bird is put back in the nest
  11. A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  12. His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free.
  13. He helped her move the pot into the sunshine.
  14. His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out.
  15. A pond is dug to catch the rain
  16. The shoes are swapped back
  17. A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  18. The red box was hiding under the very last seat.
  19. They turned the big blue splash into a lake.
  20. Ms Fernandes smiled and showed him how to tape it.
  21. A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
  22. A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  23. The earring was shining beside the flower stand.
  24. Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  25. A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  26. He changes into a clean spare uniform
  27. A snake rescuer carries it away safely
  28. The pot is moved into the sunshine
  29. The blue splash is turned into a lake
  30. At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head!
  31. Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out.
  32. The window is opened to let it out
  33. Raju and the others dug every evening for a month.
  34. The blue splash is turned into a lake
  35. A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  36. The alarm button brings help
  37. Posters help the owner find the puppy
  38. Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  39. A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  40. A bright sign and a bell bring buyers

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