Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 681 · 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 cricket ball splashes into a pond” (a) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
2. 2.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 new girl has no friends at lunch (b) The alarm button brings help (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
3. 3.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall. (b) She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. (c) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”.
4. 4.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) A train is three hours late (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
5. 5.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A puppy is shivering in the cold rain” (a) Everyone sings along with her (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) They put on the spare tyre together
6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “The lights go out and her little brother cries” (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
7. 7.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) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
8. 8.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.
9. 9.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) The alarm button brings help (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) A lift stops between two floors
10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “She is too shy to sing in front of others” (a) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) Everyone sings along with her
11. 11.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) Raju and the others dug every evening for a month. (b) The old well had dried up, and people had no water. (c) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square.
12. 12.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
13. 13.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 torn page is mended with tape (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
14. 14.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses” (a) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
15. 15.Read the story. How is the problem 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 is found beside a flower stand (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
16. 16.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. Aisha wrote a note and took it to the principal. Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day. Aisha smiled, because every drop of water matters. (a) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
17. 17.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) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off. (b) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. (c) Mr Das, a kind farmer, showed him how to fix it.
18. 18.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) A pond is dug to catch the rain
19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Wind blows away the rangoli powder” (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
20. 20.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Waves keep washing the sandcastle away” (a) The blue splash is turned into a lake (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy has torn a page of a library book” (a) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) The torn page is mended with tape
22. 22.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
23. 23.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) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (c) His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out.
24. 24.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) On a long car trip, Yash rode along the highway. (b) Bang! The back tyre of the car went flat. (c) Together they changed the tyre in twenty minutes.
25. 25.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
26. 26.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 board held up blocks the wind (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “His running shoes are the wrong size” (a) The box is found under the last seat (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
28. 28.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) He bumped a jar, and blue paint spilled everywhere. (c) On Craft Day, Rahul was painting a poster in the art room.
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) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) The box is found under the last seat
30. 30.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Homework is left at home” (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
31. 31.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boy gets lost in a big crowd” (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
32. 32.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 bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A boat starts to leak (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
33. 33.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) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
34. 34.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) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (c) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window.
35. 35.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mud splashes all over a white uniform” (a) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) The alarm button brings help (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
36. 36.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A train is three hours late” (a) The shoes are swapped back (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
37. 37.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time” (a) The box is found under the last seat (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
38. 38.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 rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
39. 39.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) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) A boy gets lost in a big crowd (c) The torn page is mended with tape
40. 40.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) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (b) Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane. (c) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground.

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