Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 848 · 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 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 bright sign and a bell bring buyers (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) A train is three hours late
2. 2.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A puppy is shivering in the cold rain” (a) It is built higher up with a moat (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
3. 3.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill” (a) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (c) A farmer shows how to put the chain back
4. 4.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. (b) The red box was hiding under the very last seat. (c) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class.
5. 5.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “The wrong name is written on a cake” (a) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) Posters help the owner find the puppy (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
6. 6.Read the story. How is the problem 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) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (c) They put on the spare tyre together
7. 7.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A kite gets stuck high up in a tree” (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
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) Her friend Kunal dug a moat to keep the water out. (c) Each time she built a castle, the waves washed it away.
9. 9.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.
10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The village well has dried up” (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
11. 11.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 board held up blocks the wind (b) A lift stops between two floors (c) The alarm button brings help
12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “She is too shy to sing in front of others” (a) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) Everyone sings along with her
13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A snake is curled up in a shed” (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) A snake rescuer carries it away safely (c) The shoes are swapped back
14. 14.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) A marble rolls into a deep drain (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
15. 15.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Homework is left at home” (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
16. 16.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The seat of the park swing has cracked” (a) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
17. 17.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) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop. (b) The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. (c) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank.
18. 18.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) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Her model volcano will not fizz” (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
20. 20.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) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy cannot find its owner” (a) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) A board held up blocks the wind
22. 22.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time” (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) The box is found under the last seat (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
23. 23.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) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
24. 24.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boy gets lost in a big crowd” (a) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
25. 25.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) The village well has dried up (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
26. 26.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 bright sign and a bell bring buyers
27. 27.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) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building. (b) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (c) A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy.
28. 28.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The microphone stops working before her song” (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
29. 29.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 plumber fixes the dripping tap
30. 30.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) The blue splash is turned into a lake (b) Mud splashes all over a white uniform (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
31. 31.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. Saanvi looked under the sofa and behind every cushion. At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head! Grandpa chuckled and gave Saanvi a big hug. (a) One quiet Sunday, Saanvi was visiting her grandpa’s flat. (b) Grandpa could not find his reading glasses anywhere. (c) At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head!
32. 32.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed. (b) Ms Fernandes smiled and showed him how to tape it. (c) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library.
33. 33.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (b) A boat starts to leak (c) A rubber slipper plugs the crack
34. 34.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) The baby bird is put back in the nest
35. 35.Read the story. How is the problem 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) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) The wrong name is written on a cake
36. 36.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) Blue paint spills over a poster (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
37. 37.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Wind blows away the rangoli powder” (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
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 seat of the park swing has cracked (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
39. 39.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) Everyone sings along with her (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A goat runs loose and eats the spinach
40. 40.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!

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