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Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 832 · 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. 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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
  2. 2.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) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) Homework is left at home (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
  3. 3.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) Everyone sings along with her
  4. 4.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kitten is stuck behind a water tank”
    (a) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
  5. 5.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) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) Nobody buys anything from the stall
  6. 6.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) Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. (b) Suddenly the lights went out, and her little brother cried. (c) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune.
  7. 7.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) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school. (c) Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch.
  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) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) The seat of the park swing has cracked
  9. 9.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) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (b) He helped her move the pot into the sunshine. (c) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all.
  10. 10.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 alarm button brings help
  11. 11.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees”
    (a) The shoes are swapped back (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
  12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy has torn a page of a library book”
    (a) The baker fixes one letter in icing (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The torn page is mended with tape
  13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster”
    (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
  14. 14.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) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  15. 15.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
  16. 16.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The village well has dried up”
    (a) A pond is dug to catch the rain (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) The torn page is mended with tape
  17. 17.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Every morning, ripe mangoes were missing from the trees. (b) She left bananas for Bholu, and he left the mangoes alone. (c) One summer holiday, Priya stayed at Nani’s orchard.
  18. 18.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.
  19. 19.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 plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A tap keeps dripping and wasting water
  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) The old well had dried up, and people had no water. (b) In the dry season, Lakshmi walked to the village square. (c) Raju and the others dug every evening for a month.
  21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “She is too shy to sing in front of others”
    (a) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) The shoes are swapped back (c) Everyone sings along with her
  22. 22.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) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) The cricket ball splashes into a pond
  23. 23.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A train is three hours late”
    (a) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
  24. 24.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.
  25. 25.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boy gets lost in a big crowd”
    (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  26. 26.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A new girl has no friends at lunch”
    (a) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  27. 27.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) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. (b) Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing. (c) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya!
  28. 28.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) His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free. (b) A strong gust blew the kite into the top of a neem tree. (c) One windy afternoon, Aarav flew his kite in the playground.
  29. 29.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) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) A snake rescuer carries it away safely
  30. 30.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) He found it by a stream and gently led it back. (b) One misty dawn, Tenzin woke up in his hill village. (c) A baby yak had wandered away from the herd.
  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 basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) A puppy is shivering in the cold rain (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) Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day. (b) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. (c) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom.
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.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 rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) The baby bird is put back in the nest (c) A hard word makes her mind go blank
  35. 35.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) Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely. (b) A long snake was curled up near the door. (c) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed.
  36. 36.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Her brother Sid held up a board to block the wind. (b) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step. (c) A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere.
  37. 37.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) The shoes are swapped back (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) His running shoes are the wrong size
  38. 38.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill”
    (a) It is built higher up with a moat (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  39. 39.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) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  40. 40.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) The lift jerked and stopped between two floors. (b) Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once. (c) One Sunday evening, Sahil took the lift in a tall building.

Answer key

  1. Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
  2. He is allowed to bring it the next day
  3. A snake rescuer carries it away safely
  4. A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out
  5. A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
  6. Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit.
  7. Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch.
  8. A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  9. He helped her move the pot into the sunshine.
  10. His name is called on the loudspeaker
  11. Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  12. The torn page is mended with tape
  13. The blue splash is turned into a lake
  14. She sings loudly without a microphone
  15. The box is found under the last seat
  16. A pond is dug to catch the rain
  17. She left bananas for Bholu, and he left the mangoes alone.
  18. Mr Bose, the teacher, asked everyone to sing with her.
  19. A plumber fixes the dripping tap
  20. Raju and the others dug every evening for a month.
  21. Everyone sings along with her
  22. A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
  23. Solving puzzles together passes the time
  24. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner.
  25. His name is called on the loudspeaker
  26. She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
  27. Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing.
  28. His friend Kiran brought a bamboo pole to poke it free.
  29. They put on the spare tyre together
  30. He found it by a stream and gently led it back.
  31. A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
  32. Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day.
  33. The window is opened to let it out
  34. A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  35. Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely.
  36. Her brother Sid held up a board to block the wind.
  37. The shoes are swapped back
  38. A farmer shows how to put the chain back
  39. Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
  40. Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once.

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