← The solution in a story lesson New set →

Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 280 · 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.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.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) The red box was hiding under the very last seat. (c) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class.
  2. 2.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. (b) She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. (c) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”.
  3. 3.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  4. 4.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time”
    (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) The box is found under the last seat
  5. 5.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) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) The torn page is mended with tape
  6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy has torn a page of a library book”
    (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) The torn page is mended with tape
  7. 7.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! Manav ran after the goat and held out a carrot. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks.
    (a) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
  8. 8.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! Manav ran after the goat and held out a carrot. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. Lakshmi gave Manav a bunch of carrots as thanks.
    (a) The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. (b) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. (c) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach!
  9. 9.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Waves keep washing the sandcastle away”
    (a) The alarm button brings help (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) It is built higher up with a moat
  10. 10.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) Everyone sings along with her (b) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
  11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Maa quickly gave him a clean spare uniform. (b) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. (c) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane.
  12. 12.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) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tap keeps dripping and wasting water”
    (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) The alarm button brings help (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  14. 14.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 biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
  15. 15.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kite gets stuck high up in a tree”
    (a) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
  16. 16.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. Diya held out a biscuit and spoke softly to it. The puppy crept out and licked her hand. Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed.
    (a) The puppy crept out and licked her hand. (b) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. (c) A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart.
  17. 17.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) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (b) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (c) Together they changed the tyre in twenty minutes.
  18. 18.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) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. (b) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. (c) Dadi held the stool while she put it back in the nest.
  19. 19.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) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (c) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground.
  20. 20.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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) It is built higher up with a moat
  21. 21.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 rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A boat starts to leak
  22. 22.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. Diya held out a biscuit and spoke softly to it. The puppy crept out and licked her hand. Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed.
    (a) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
  23. 23.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A butterfly is trapped at a window”
    (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  24. 24.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 blue splash is turned into a lake (c) The microphone stops working before her song
  25. 25.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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 knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (b) Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch. (c) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school.
  26. 26.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) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (c) His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free.
  27. 27.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) Everyone sings along with her (c) The window is opened to let it out
  28. 28.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 board held up blocks the wind (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
  29. 29.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Nobody buys anything from the stall”
    (a) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
  30. 30.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard. (b) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. (c) She left bananas for Bholu, and he left the mangoes alone.
  31. 31.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bean seed does not sprout”
    (a) The blue splash is turned into a lake (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
  32. 32.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) Homework is left at home (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
  33. 33.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) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. (b) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. (c) Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day.
  34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A hard word makes her mind go blank”
    (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
  35. 35.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) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
  36. 36.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) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (b) Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing. (c) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery.
  37. 37.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) The shoes are swapped back (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  38. 38.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) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
  39. 39.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) He helped her move the pot into the sunshine. (b) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (c) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all.
  40. 40.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A goat runs loose and eats the spinach”
    (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner

Answer key

  1. The red box was hiding under the very last seat.
  2. She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right.
  3. Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  4. The box is found under the last seat
  5. The torn page is mended with tape
  6. The torn page is mended with tape
  7. A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  8. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner.
  9. It is built higher up with a moat
  10. She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
  11. Maa quickly gave him a clean spare uniform.
  12. A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  13. A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  14. The box is found under the last seat
  15. A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
  16. The puppy crept out and licked her hand.
  17. Together they changed the tyre in twenty minutes.
  18. Dadi held the stool while she put it back in the nest.
  19. Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane.
  20. It is built higher up with a moat
  21. A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  22. A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
  23. The window is opened to let it out
  24. She sings loudly without a microphone
  25. Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch.
  26. His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free.
  27. The window is opened to let it out
  28. Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  29. A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
  30. She left bananas for Bholu, and he left the mangoes alone.
  31. The pot is moved into the sunshine
  32. He is allowed to bring it the next day
  33. Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day.
  34. A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  35. He changes into a clean spare uniform
  36. Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing.
  37. Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  38. Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
  39. He helped her move the pot into the sunshine.
  40. A carrot leads the goat back to its owner

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