Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 410 · 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 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) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) A bean seed does not sprout
2. 2.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) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
3. 3.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “The cricket ball splashes into a pond” (a) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
4. 4.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) Mr Das, a kind farmer, showed him how to fix it. (c) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road.
5. 5.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Nobody buys anything from the stall” (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
7. 7.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) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
8. 8.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A lift stops between two floors” (a) The alarm button brings help (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
9. 9.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 board held up blocks the wind (c) The alarm button brings help
10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The village well has dried up” (a) It is built higher up with a moat (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
11. 11.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 kite gets stuck high up in a tree (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tap keeps dripping and wasting water” (a) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy cannot find its owner” (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) The torn page is mended with tape
14. 14.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 saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
15. 15.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boat starts to leak” (a) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
16. 16.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 earring is found beside a flower stand (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
17. 17.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) It is built higher up with a moat (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
18. 18.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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) The microphone stops working before her song (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees” (a) The box is found under the last seat (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
20. 20.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
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) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
22. 22.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) Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch. (b) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (c) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school.
23. 23.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.
24. 24.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) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
25. 25.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kitten is stuck behind a water tank” (a) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) It is built higher up with a moat
26. 26.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “An aunt loses a gold earring” (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) They put on the spare tyre together
27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby bird falls out of its nest” (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) The box is found under the last seat
28. 28.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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 was beating its wings against the window. (b) Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside. (c) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room.
29. 29.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) Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day. (c) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted.
30. 30.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (b) Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely. (c) A long snake was curled up near the door.
31. 31.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) Mud splashes all over a white uniform
32. 32.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The wrong name is written on a cake” (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
33. 33.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 box is found under the last seat (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
34. 34.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) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (b) His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free. (c) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground.
35. 35.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “His running shoes are the wrong size” (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The shoes are swapped back
36. 36.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) She and an old man, Mr Iyer, solved puzzles together. (c) Her train was three hours late.
37. 37.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) A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. (b) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. (c) The puppy crept out and licked her hand.
38. 38.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The lights go out and her little brother cries” (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
39. 39.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) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
40. 40.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy has torn a page of a library book” (a) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) The torn page is mended with tape

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