Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 527 · 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?
   “A boat starts to leak” (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
2. 2.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 saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) A butterfly is trapped at a window
3. 3.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) Nobody buys anything from the stall (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
4. 4.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) The torn page is mended with tape
5. 5.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) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. (c) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden.
6. 6.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 pot is moved into the sunshine (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The microphone stops working before her song
7. 7.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) The shoes are swapped back (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
8. 8.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “The microphone stops working before her song” (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
9. 9.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.
10. 10.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) The torn page is mended with tape
11. 11.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) The torn page is mended with tape (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A snake is curled up in a shed” (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time” (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) The box is found under the last seat
14. 14.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A lift stops between two floors” (a) The alarm button brings help (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) The shoes are swapped back
15. 15.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) His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free. (c) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree.
16. 16.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) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (b) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (c) Ms Fernandes smiled and showed him how to tape it.
17. 17.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 alarm button brings help (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
18. 18.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 biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
19. 19.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.
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 rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
21. 21.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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 old swing had cracked in two. (b) Mrs Rao gave them a strong plank and some rope. (c) Early one Saturday, Ishaan ran to the colony park.
22. 22.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 saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
23. 23.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby yak wanders away from the herd” (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) The shoes are swapped back
24. 24.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Nobody buys anything from the stall” (a) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
25. 25.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “She is too shy to sing in front of others” (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) Everyone sings along with her
26. 26.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) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (b) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (c) Together they changed the tyre in twenty minutes.
27. 27.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) The old well had dried up, and people had no water. (b) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (c) Raju and the others dug every evening for a month.
28. 28.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The village well has dried up” (a) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The torn page is mended with tape
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) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) The village well has dried up
30. 30.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A snake is curled up in a shed (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
31. 31.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) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The box is found under the last seat
32. 32.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy cannot find its owner” (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
33. 33.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A hard word makes her mind go blank” (a) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
35. 35.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) They turned the big blue splash into a lake. (b) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room. (c) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere.
36. 36.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) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
37. 37.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees” (a) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
38. 38.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. (b) Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once. (c) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors.
39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A car tyre goes flat on a long trip” (a) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) They put on the spare tyre together
40. 40.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) Dadi held the stool while she put it back in the nest. (c) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly.

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