Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 724 · 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.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 biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The village well has dried up
2. 2.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 bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
3. 3.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A kite gets stuck high up in a tree” (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
4. 4.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
   One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi. A tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. Diya held out a biscuit and spoke softly to it. The puppy crept out and licked her hand. Diya named him Moti and made him a warm bed. (a) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain
5. 5.Read the story. How is the problem 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 is allowed to bring it the next day (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) Homework is left at home
6. 6.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.
7. 7.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Waves keep washing the sandcastle away” (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) It is built higher up with a moat
8. 8.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “An aunt loses a gold earring” (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) The window is opened to let it out
9. 9.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees” (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
10. 10.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 bamboo pole pokes the kite free
11. 11.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) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. (b) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (c) He helped her move the pot into the sunshine.
12. 12.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A board held up blocks the wind
13. 13.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) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A board held up blocks the wind
14. 14.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) The box is found under the last seat (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
15. 15.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) The torn page is mended with tape (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
16. 16.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boy gets lost in a big crowd” (a) The blue splash is turned into a lake (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
17. 17.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) Mr Bose, the teacher, asked everyone to sing with her. (b) She was too shy to sing in front of the others. (c) On a Wednesday evening, Meher went to the music school.
18. 18.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) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) Nobody buys anything from the stall (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The village well has dried up” (a) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
20. 20.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Her train was three hours late. (b) One foggy morning, Fatima waited at the railway station. (c) She and an old man, Mr Iyer, solved puzzles together.
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby yak wanders away from the herd” (a) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) The shoes are swapped back
22. 22.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) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (b) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (c) His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out.
23. 23.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”.
24. 24.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 strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A boat starts to leak
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) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) The window is opened to let it out
26. 26.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) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A marble rolls into a deep drain” (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) The alarm button brings help (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
28. 28.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) Mr Das, a kind farmer, showed him how to fix it. (b) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road. (c) Halfway up, the chain of his bicycle slipped off.
29. 29.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.
30. 30.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) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (b) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach. (c) Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out.
31. 31.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill” (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
32. 32.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A train is three hours late” (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
33. 33.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) Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane. (b) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big! (c) On Sports Day, Neel lined up at the sports ground.
34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boat starts to leak” (a) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
35. 35.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bean seed does not sprout” (a) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
36. 36.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) He tied a basket to a stick and scooped the ball out. (b) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water. (c) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond.
37. 37.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) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (b) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (c) A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy.
38. 38.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 glasses are found on top of his head (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A goat runs loose and eats the spinach” (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
40. 40.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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) Her model volcano will not fizz (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz

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