Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 561 · 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 bean seed does not sprout” (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
2. 2.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A hard word makes her mind go blank” (a) Everyone sings along with her (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
3. 3.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) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (b) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. (c) Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once.
4. 4.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) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
5. 5.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) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. (c) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall.
6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Mud splashes all over a white uniform” (a) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
7. 7.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) A pond is dug to catch the rain
8. 8.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) The box is found under the last seat (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) A marble rolls into a deep drain
9. 9.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.
10. 10.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A boat starts to leak (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
11. 11.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) The torn page is mended with tape (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
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) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Homework is left at home” (a) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) The alarm button brings help
14. 14.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) Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside. (b) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room.
15. 15.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere. (b) Her brother Sid held up a board to block the wind. (c) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step.
16. 16.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tap keeps dripping and wasting water” (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
17. 17.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster” (a) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
18. 18.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (b) A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy. (c) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby.
19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill” (a) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
20. 20.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) His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free. (b) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground. (c) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree.
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A lift stops between two floors” (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The alarm button brings help
22. 22.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 village well has dried up (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
23. 23.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) A kitten is stuck behind a water tank (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
24. 24.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A new girl has no friends at lunch” (a) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
25. 25.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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
26. 26.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The lights go out and her little brother cries” (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
28. 28.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The microphone stops working before her song” (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) The shoes are swapped back
29. 29.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The cricket ball splashes into a pond” (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
30. 30.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy cannot find its owner” (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
31. 31.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “An aunt loses a gold earring” (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
32. 32.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) He found that he had left his homework at home. (c) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom.
33. 33.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) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A board held up blocks the wind
34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A snake is curled up in a shed” (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
35. 35.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) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground. (b) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (c) Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane.
36. 36.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) The window is opened to let it out
37. 37.Read the story. How is the problem 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 bird falls out of its nest (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
38. 38.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 board held up blocks the wind (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
39. 39.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) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
40. 40.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 train is three hours late (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh

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