Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 850 · 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?
   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 board held up blocks the wind (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) Wind blows away the rangoli powder
2. 2.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “Waves keep washing the sandcastle away” (a) It is built higher up with a moat (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
3. 3.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) One Monday morning, Aryan sat down in his classroom. (c) He found that he had left his homework at home.
4. 4.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) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) An aunt loses a gold earring
5. 5.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A marble rolls into a deep drain” (a) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A hard word makes her mind go blank” (a) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
7. 7.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) The lights go out and her little brother cries (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
8. 8.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.
9. 9.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) She spelt it slowly, letter by letter, and got it right. (b) Her mind went blank on the word “necessary”. (c) On competition day, Nisha stood on stage in the town hall.
10. 10.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) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all. (c) He helped her move the pot into the sunshine.
11. 11.Read the story. How is the problem 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) She is too shy to sing in front of others (b) Everyone sings along with her (c) The shoes are swapped back
12. 12.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster” (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) The alarm button brings help
13. 13.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Maa quickly gave him a clean spare uniform. (b) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. (c) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane.
14. 14.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A car tyre goes flat on a long trip” (a) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) They put on the spare tyre together (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
15. 15.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 goat runs loose and eats the spinach (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
16. 16.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby bird falls out of its nest” (a) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) The baby bird is put back in the nest
17. 17.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “An aunt loses a gold earring” (a) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) The shoes are swapped back
18. 18.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 blue splash is turned into a lake (b) A puppy has torn a page of a library book (c) The torn page is mended with tape
19. 19.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) Officer Kaur called his name on the loudspeaker. (b) On a crowded evening, Vihaan went to the city fair. (c) He stopped to watch a juggler and lost his dad.
20. 20.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) The alarm button brings help (b) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (c) A boat starts to leak
21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The lights go out and her little brother cries” (a) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
22. 22.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) The alarm button brings help (b) Homework is left at home (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
23. 23.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 farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
24. 24.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A butterfly is trapped at a window” (a) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) The window is opened to let it out
25. 25.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 tap keeps dripping and wasting water (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A plumber fixes the dripping tap
26. 26.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) A car tyre goes flat on a long trip (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) They put on the spare tyre together
27. 27.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) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) A bean seed does not sprout (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
28. 28.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Her model volcano will not fizz” (a) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
29. 29.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) The village well has dried up (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) The shoes are swapped back
30. 30.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) The red box was hiding under the very last seat. (b) At lunch, Meera saw that her tiffin box was missing. (c) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class.
31. 31.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A kitten is stuck behind a water tank” (a) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) The shoes are swapped back
32. 32.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) It is built higher up with a moat
33. 33.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) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. (b) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted. (c) Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day.
34. 34.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy is shivering in the cold rain” (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
35. 35.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) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (b) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. (c) Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing.
36. 36.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill” (a) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
37. 37.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) Everyone sings along with her (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead
38. 38.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A train is three hours late” (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) Solving puzzles together passes the time (c) The shoes are swapped back
39. 39.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The wrong name is written on a cake” (a) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) The window is opened to let it out (c) The baker fixes one letter in icing
40. 40.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) Posters help the owner find the puppy (b) The pot is moved into the sunshine (c) A puppy cannot find its owner

Free creative writing lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/creative-writing-for-kids