Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 824 · 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?
   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) A bean seed does not sprout (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
2. 2.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.
3. 3.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses” (a) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
4. 4.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Mud splashes all over a white uniform” (a) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
5. 5.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill” (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A butterfly is trapped at a window” (a) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) The shoes are swapped back
7. 7.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) On a festive night, Zoya danced in the wedding hall. (b) Aunt Lata cried out that she had lost a gold earring. (c) The earring was shining beside the flower stand.
8. 8.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) The earring is found beside a flower stand
9. 9.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A hard word makes her mind go blank” (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
10. 10.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) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
11. 11.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The microphone stops working before her song” (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A snake is curled up in a shed” (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “His running shoes are the wrong size” (a) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) The shoes are swapped back
14. 14.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A lift stops between two floors” (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) The alarm button brings help
15. 15.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 lift stops between two floors (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) The alarm button brings help
16. 16.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (b) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune. (c) Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit.
17. 17.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy cannot find its owner” (a) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
18. 18.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) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) It is built higher up with a moat
19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tap keeps dripping and wasting water” (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
20. 20.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) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (c) The old well had dried up, and people had no water.
21. 21.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.
22. 22.Read the story. How is the problem solved?
    One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane. A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. Ayaan ran home and told Maa what had happened. Maa quickly gave him a clean spare uniform. Ayaan reached school just as the bell rang. (a) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
23. 23.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “She is too shy to sing in front of others” (a) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) The window is opened to let it out
24. 24.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster” (a) The blue splash is turned into a lake (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
25. 25.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 bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
26. 26.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A train is three hours late” (a) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy has torn a page of a library book” (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (c) The torn page is mended with tape
28. 28.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) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building. (b) Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once. (c) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors.
29. 29.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 is curled up in a shed (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
30. 30.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees” (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) The window is opened to let it out
31. 31.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) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
32. 32.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.
33. 33.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) Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out. (b) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away. (c) During the Christmas holidays, Maria went to the beach.
34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The seat of the park swing has cracked” (a) The glasses are found on top of his head (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
35. 35.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) Mr Das, a kind farmer, showed him how to fix it. (c) One sunny morning, Rohan cycled up the hill road.
36. 36.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) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (b) Water began to seep in through a crack in the boat. (c) Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there.
37. 37.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) The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. (b) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. (c) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank.
38. 38.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A goat runs loose and eats the spinach” (a) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
39. 39.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 blue splash is turned into a lake (b) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (c) A board held up blocks the wind
40. 40.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) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch

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