Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 28 · 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?
   “A tap keeps dripping and wasting water” (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) The shoes are swapped back
2. 2.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (b) Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there. (c) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat.
3. 3.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) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (c) A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy.
4. 4.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) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
5. 5.Read the story. How is the problem 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) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
6. 6.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) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (b) Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. (c) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried.
7. 7.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A puppy cannot find its owner” (a) The alarm button brings help (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
8. 8.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
9. 9.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time” (a) The box is found under the last seat (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
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) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
11. 11.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) The village well has dried up (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
12. 12.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) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. (c) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop.
13. 13.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) The shoes are swapped back (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
14. 14.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) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (b) She sang so loudly that everyone could hear her. (c) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall.
15. 15.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “His running shoes are the wrong size” (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) The shoes are swapped back
16. 16.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A hard word makes her mind go blank” (a) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
17. 17.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
18. 18.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) He is allowed to bring it the next day
19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bean seed does not sprout” (a) It is built higher up with a moat (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
20. 20.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 sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out. (b) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (c) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard.
21. 21.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) The box is found under the last seat
22. 22.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses” (a) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
23. 23.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster” (a) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) The box is found under the last seat
24. 24.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) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) The torn page is mended with tape
25. 25.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mud splashes all over a white uniform” (a) The shoes are swapped back (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
26. 26.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) A board held up blocks the wind (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) It is built higher up with a moat
27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Her model volcano will not fizz” (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
28. 28.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) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (b) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. (c) Joseph brought her fresh baking soda from the lab.
29. 29.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) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
30. 30.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The seat of the park swing has cracked” (a) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
31. 31.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. (b) Her train was three hours late. (c) She and an old man, Mr Iyer, solved puzzles together.
32. 32.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
33. 33.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy has torn a page of a library book” (a) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
34. 34.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank
35. 35.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) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (b) Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out. (c) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach.
36. 36.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) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) The alarm button brings help (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
37. 37.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby bird falls out of its nest” (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
38. 38.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) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
39. 39.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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
40. 40.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A goat runs loose and eats the spinach” (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner

Free creative writing lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/creative-writing-for-kids