Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 420 · 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?
   “The microphone stops working before her song” (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
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?
   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.
4. 4.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) It is built higher up with a moat
5. 5.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A car tyre goes flat on a long trip” (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
6. 6.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) It is built higher up with a moat (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) A puppy cannot find its owner
7. 7.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “The lights go out and her little brother cries” (a) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
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) A bean seed does not sprout (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
9. 9.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A puppy cannot find its owner” (a) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses” (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
11. 11.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) Her friend Zubin rang a bell to call people over. (b) On bake sale day, Kiara set up a stall at the school gate. (c) By noon, nobody had bought a single cookie.
12. 12.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) The microphone stops working before her song (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A train is three hours late” (a) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
14. 14.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
15. 15.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) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane. (b) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. (c) Maa quickly gave him a clean spare uniform.
16. 16.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) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) Her model volcano will not fizz
17. 17.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby yak wanders away from the herd” (a) The box is found under the last seat (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
18. 18.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “An aunt loses a gold earring” (a) The alarm button brings help (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Waves keep washing the sandcastle away” (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) It is built higher up with a moat
20. 20.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Wind blows away the rangoli powder” (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The cricket ball splashes into a pond” (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
22. 22.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A butterfly is trapped at a window” (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
23. 23.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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
24. 24.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) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
25. 25.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
26. 26.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Ms Gill let him bring it the next day. (b) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (c) He found that he had left his homework at home.
27. 27.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 bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) The alarm button brings help
28. 28.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mud splashes all over a white uniform” (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
29. 29.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 shoes are swapped back (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The village well has dried up
30. 30.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Nobody buys anything from the stall” (a) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
31. 31.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) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. (b) The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. (c) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop.
32. 32.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) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (b) The alarm button brings help (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
33. 33.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) Posters help the owner find the puppy
34. 34.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 bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
35. 35.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) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. (c) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya!
36. 36.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 carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
37. 37.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bean seed does not sprout” (a) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) The shoes are swapped back
38. 38.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) The box is found under the last seat (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
39. 39.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) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. (b) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. (c) Mr Das, a kind farmer, showed him how to fix it.
40. 40.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) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (b) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside.

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