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Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 595 · 40 questions
TalentJR

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.

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  1. 1.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) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (c) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery.
  2. 2.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) They put on the spare tyre together (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  3. 3.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) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room. (b) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. (c) They turned the big blue splash into a lake.
  4. 4.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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 had wandered away from the herd. (b) He found it by a stream and gently led it back. (c) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village.
  5. 5.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A new girl has no friends at lunch
  6. 6.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 strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
  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 earring is found beside a flower stand (b) The wrong name is written on a cake (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
  8. 8.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster”
    (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
  9. 9.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.
  10. 10.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) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
  11. 11.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The seat of the park swing has cracked”
    (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  13. 13.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 glasses are found on top of his head (c) They put on the spare tyre together
  14. 14.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 basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) The alarm button brings help
  15. 15.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) A baby yak wanders away from the herd (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  16. 16.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 rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A hard word makes her mind go blank (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  17. 17.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) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
  18. 18.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “His running shoes are the wrong size”
    (a) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) The shoes are swapped back
  19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tap keeps dripping and wasting water”
    (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  20. 20.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby yak wanders away from the herd”
    (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) They put on the spare tyre together
  21. 21.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) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) The torn page is mended with tape
  22. 22.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) He found that he had left his homework at home. (b) Ms Gill let him bring it the next day. (c) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom.
  23. 23.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) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  24. 24.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) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. (c) The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk.
  25. 25.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 butterfly is trapped at a window (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) The window is opened to let it out
  26. 26.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Wind blows away the rangoli powder”
    (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A board held up blocks the wind
  27. 27.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) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  28. 28.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A butterfly is trapped at a window”
    (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  29. 29.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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The box is found under the last seat
  30. 30.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 basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) The torn page is mended with tape
  31. 31.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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees
  32. 32.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (b) At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head! (c) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat.
  33. 33.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) Her model volcano will not fizz (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  34. 34.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
  35. 35.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) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) The shoes are swapped back
  36. 36.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A train is three hours late”
    (a) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
  37. 37.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Joseph brought her fresh baking soda from the lab. (b) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (c) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened.
  38. 38.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The microphone stops working before her song”
    (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
  39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees”
    (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
  40. 40.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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely

Answer key

  1. Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing.
  2. Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  3. They turned the big blue splash into a lake.
  4. He found it by a stream and gently led it back.
  5. She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
  6. A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  7. The baker fixes one letter in icing
  8. The blue splash is turned into a lake
  9. Mr Bose, the teacher, asked everyone to sing with her.
  10. A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
  11. Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
  12. A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  13. They put on the spare tyre together
  14. The alarm button brings help
  15. Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  16. A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  17. A board held up blocks the wind
  18. The shoes are swapped back
  19. A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  20. Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  21. His name is called on the loudspeaker
  22. Ms Gill let him bring it the next day.
  23. A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  24. The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk.
  25. The window is opened to let it out
  26. A board held up blocks the wind
  27. A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
  28. The window is opened to let it out
  29. The box is found under the last seat
  30. They put on the spare tyre together
  31. Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  32. At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head!
  33. Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
  34. A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  35. A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
  36. Solving puzzles together passes the time
  37. Joseph brought her fresh baking soda from the lab.
  38. She sings loudly without a microphone
  39. Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  40. A snake rescuer carries it away safely

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