Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 373 · 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) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
2. 2.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “The lights go out and her little brother cries” (a) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
3. 3.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
4. 4.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) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
5. 5.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) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (b) Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane. (c) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground.
6. 6.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) Raju and the others dug every evening for a month. (c) The old well had dried up, and people had no water.
7. 7.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Waves keep washing the sandcastle away” (a) It is built higher up with a moat (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
8. 8.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) Everyone sings along with her (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
9. 9.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) He found it by a stream and gently led it back. (b) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. (c) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd.
10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees” (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
11. 11.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) The shoes are swapped back
12. 12.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.
13. 13.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) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
14. 14.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) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (b) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (c) Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch.
15. 15.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) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
16. 16.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) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (c) Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there.
17. 17.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
18. 18.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy has torn a page of a library book” (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) The torn page is mended with tape
19. 19.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) The earring was shining beside the flower stand. (b) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. (c) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring.
20. 20.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy cannot find its owner” (a) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
22. 22.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A marble rolls into a deep drain” (a) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
23. 23.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kite gets stuck high up in a tree” (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
24. 24.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) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (b) He helped her move the pot into the sunshine. (c) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all.
25. 25.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 rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) A puppy cannot find its owner (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
26. 26.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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby bird falls out of its nest” (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
28. 28.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.
29. 29.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) A board held up blocks the wind (b) Homework is left at home (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
30. 30.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 kitten is stuck behind a water tank (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
31. 31.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) The box is found under the last seat (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) The alarm button brings help
32. 32.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) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
33. 33.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Nobody buys anything from the stall” (a) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) The torn page is mended with tape
34. 34.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) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
35. 35.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 earring is found beside a flower stand (c) The microphone stops working before her song
36. 36.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bean seed does not sprout” (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
37. 37.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) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) A train is three hours late
38. 38.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) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses” (a) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) They put on the spare tyre together
40. 40.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A new girl has no friends at lunch” (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch

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