Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 417 · 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. 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) Her friend Zubin rang a bell to call people over. (c) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie.
2. 2.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) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. (b) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! (c) The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner.
3. 3.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) The alarm button brings help (c) They put on the spare tyre together
4. 4.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 bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) It is built higher up with a moat
5. 5.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) She sang so loudly that everyone could hear her. (b) Just before her turn, the microphone stopped working. (c) On Annual Day, Kavya waited to sing in the school hall.
6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A puppy has torn a page of a library book” (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
7. 7.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) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. (b) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (c) Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out.
8. 8.Read the story. How is the problem 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) The shoes are swapped back (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
9. 9.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) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kitten is stuck behind a water tank” (a) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
11. 11.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (b) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (c) Ms Fernandes smiled and showed him how to tape it.
12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “An aunt loses a gold earring” (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
13. 13.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) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
14. 14.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) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
15. 15.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) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) A board held up blocks the wind
16. 16.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) Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. (b) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (c) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried.
17. 17.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A new girl has no friends at lunch” (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) The alarm button brings help (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
18. 18.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) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. (b) She left bananas for Bholu, and he left the mangoes alone. (c) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard.
19. 19.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    On a crowded evening, Vihaan went to the city fair. He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad. Vihaan stayed calm and went to a lady in uniform. Officer Kaur called his name on the loudspeaker. In five minutes, Vihaan’s dad came running to him. (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A boy gets lost in a big crowd
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 baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time” (a) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) The box is found under the last seat
22. 22.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster” (a) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble 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 snake rescuer carries it away safely (b) A kite gets stuck high up in a tree (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
24. 24.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The wrong name is written on a cake” (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
25. 25.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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
26. 26.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) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) A bean seed does not sprout
27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Homework is left at home” (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
28. 28.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) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) The village well has dried up
29. 29.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school. (b) She was too shy to sing in front of the others. (c) Mr Bose, the teacher, asked everyone to sing with her.
30. 30.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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
31. 31.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 lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (b) His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out. (c) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard.
32. 32.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) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
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) The alarm button brings help (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The cricket ball splashes into a pond” (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) It is built higher up with a moat
35. 35.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) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. (c) The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk.
36. 36.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) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
37. 37.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) The window is opened to let it out
38. 38.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby yak wanders away from the herd” (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The village well has dried up” (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) It is built higher up with a moat
40. 40.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) A lift stops between two floors (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) The alarm button brings help

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