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Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 761 · 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 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) Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane. (c) His running shoes had been mixed up, and they were too big!
  2. 2.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The cricket ball splashes into a pond”
    (a) Everyone sings along with her (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
  3. 3.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A puppy cannot find its owner (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
  4. 4.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Nobody buys anything from the stall”
    (a) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
  5. 5.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) Dadi held the stool while she put it back in the nest. (b) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. (c) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly.
  6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kite gets stuck high up in a tree”
    (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) The box is found under the last seat
  7. 7.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 box is found under the last seat (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
  8. 8.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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  9. 9.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) She knew nobody and sat all alone at lunch. (b) Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch. (c) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school.
  10. 10.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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 was dripping, and water was being wasted. (b) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. (c) Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day.
  11. 11.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”.
  12. 12.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 sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out. (c) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain.
  13. 13.Read the story. How is the problem 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) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) Blue paint spills over a poster
  14. 14.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
  15. 15.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees”
    (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  16. 16.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.
  17. 17.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 bright sign and a bell bring buyers
  18. 18.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) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) An aunt loses a gold earring (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
  19. 19.Read the story. How is the problem 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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  20. 20.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 hard word makes her mind go blank (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  21. 21.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.
  22. 22.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. (b) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach! (c) The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner.
  23. 23.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses”
    (a) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) She sings loudly without a microphone
  24. 24.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) The alarm button brings help (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
  25. 25.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) The alarm button brings help (c) The torn page is mended with tape
  26. 26.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A marble rolls into a deep drain”
    (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  27. 27.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) The box is found under the last seat (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
  28. 28.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) A new girl has no friends at lunch (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  29. 29.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The lights go out and her little brother cries”
    (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) They put on the spare tyre together
  30. 30.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed. (b) A long snake was curled up near the door. (c) Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely.
  31. 31.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “She is too shy to sing in front of others”
    (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) It is built higher up with a moat
  32. 32.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy is shivering in the cold rain”
    (a) The torn page is mended with tape (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  33. 33.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) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (c) His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free.
  34. 34.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 plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) The earring is found beside a flower stand
  35. 35.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) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) A butterfly is trapped at a window (c) The window is opened to let it out
  36. 36.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy has torn a page of a library book”
    (a) The box is found under the last seat (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) The torn page is mended with tape
  37. 37.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 rescuer carries it away safely (b) A snake is curled up in a shed (c) A board held up blocks the wind
  38. 38.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) One hot afternoon, Kabir played cricket by the village pond. (c) Farhan hit the ball so hard that it splashed into the water.
  39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The wrong name is written on a cake”
    (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
  40. 40.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (b) Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there. (c) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters.

Answer key

  1. Coach Iqbal swapped them back with a boy in the next lane.
  2. A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
  3. Posters help the owner find the puppy
  4. A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
  5. Dadi held the stool while she put it back in the nest.
  6. A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
  7. The baby bird is put back in the nest
  8. A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  9. Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch.
  10. Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day.
  11. She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right.
  12. His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out.
  13. The blue splash is turned into a lake
  14. Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  15. Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  16. Together they changed the tyre in twenty minutes.
  17. A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  18. The earring is found beside a flower stand
  19. It is built higher up with a moat
  20. A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  21. He helped her move the pot into the sunshine.
  22. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner.
  23. The glasses are found on top of his head
  24. His name is called on the loudspeaker
  25. The torn page is mended with tape
  26. Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
  27. The box is found under the last seat
  28. She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
  29. Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  30. Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely.
  31. Everyone sings along with her
  32. A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
  33. His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free.
  34. A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  35. The window is opened to let it out
  36. The torn page is mended with tape
  37. A snake rescuer carries it away safely
  38. He tied a basket to a stick and scooped the ball out.
  39. The baker fixes one letter in icing
  40. Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there.

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