Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 273 · 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.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “His running shoes are the wrong size” (a) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) The shoes are swapped back
2. 2.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
3. 3.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A bean seed does not sprout” (a) It is built higher up with a moat (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) They put on the spare tyre together
4. 4.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Homework is left at home” (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
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 bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill” (a) The shoes are swapped back (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
7. 7.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) It is built higher up with a moat
8. 8.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) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) The torn page is mended with tape
9. 9.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.
10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The wrong name is written on a cake” (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) The window is opened to let it out
11. 11.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A lift stops between two floors” (a) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) The alarm button brings help (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
12. 12.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) Everyone sings along with her (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The village well has dried up
13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses” (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
14. 14.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step. A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere. Aditi did not give up and started all over again. Her brother Sid held up a board to block the wind. By noon, Aditi’s rangoli was the brightest on the street. (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
15. 15.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
16. 16.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (b) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (c) Together they changed the tyre in twenty minutes.
17. 17.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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
18. 18.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) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mud splashes all over a white uniform” (a) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) The window is opened to let it out
20. 20.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) An aunt loses a gold earring (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boat starts to leak” (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
22. 22.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A butterfly is trapped at a window” (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) The window is opened to let it out
23. 23.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 plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree
24. 24.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) Everyone sings along with her (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
25. 25.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.
26. 26.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 pot is moved into the sunshine
27. 27.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) Mrs Rao gave them a strong plank and some rope. (b) The seat of the old swing had cracked in two. (c) Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park.
28. 28.Read the story. How is the problem 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) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
29. 29.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.
30. 30.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) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
31. 31.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) A pond is dug to catch the rain
32. 32.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) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. (b) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (c) Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane.
33. 33.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby bird falls out of its nest” (a) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Waves keep washing the sandcastle away” (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) It is built higher up with a moat
35. 35.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) The box is found under the last seat (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) Everyone sings along with her
36. 36.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.
37. 37.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tap keeps dripping and wasting water” (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
38. 38.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Wind blows away the rangoli powder” (a) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) A board held up blocks the wind
39. 39.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) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) A train is three hours late
40. 40.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 strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) The shoes are swapped back

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