Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 932 · 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. 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) He helped her move the pot into the sunshine. (b) One spring morning, Tara potted a bean in the school garden. (c) Two weeks later, nothing had come up at all.
2. 2.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time” (a) The box is found under the last seat (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
3. 3.Read the story. How is the problem 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) The window is opened to let it out (b) The glasses are found on top of his head (c) Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses
4. 4.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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill
5. 5.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) It is built higher up with a moat (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away
6. 6.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) It is built higher up with a moat (b) The lights go out and her little brother cries (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
7. 7.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) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (b) Mangoes keep vanishing from the trees (c) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
8. 8.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 glasses are found on top of his head (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
9. 9.Which is the best solution to this problem?
   “A lift stops between two floors” (a) The alarm button brings help (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers
10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Mud splashes all over a white uniform” (a) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) The shoes are swapped back
11. 11.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) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) The window is opened to let it out
12. 12.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.
13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bean seed does not sprout” (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
14. 14.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) Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing. (c) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery.
15. 15.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) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
16. 16.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) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (c) The box is found under the last seat
17. 17.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A new girl has no friends at lunch” (a) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
18. 18.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Nobody buys anything from the stall” (a) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (b) A bright sign and a bell bring buyers (c) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free
19. 19.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) One bright morning, Anjali went boating on the backwaters. (c) Appa rowed fast to the shore while she held it there.
20. 20.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The cricket ball splashes into a pond” (a) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out (b) A bamboo pole pokes the kite free (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
21. 21.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.
22. 22.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) After the lunch bell, Advik walked into the music room. (b) Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside. (c) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window.
23. 23.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Waves keep washing the sandcastle away” (a) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (b) A pond is dug to catch the rain (c) It is built higher up with a moat
24. 24.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) He is allowed to bring it the next day (b) The cricket ball splashes into a pond (c) A basket tied to a stick scoops it out
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) The village well has dried up (b) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) A pond is dug to catch the rain
26. 26.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boat starts to leak” (a) A rubber slipper plugs the crack (b) Bananas are left out for the monkey instead (c) He changes into a clean spare uniform
27. 27.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) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (b) A marble rolls into a deep drain (c) It is built higher up with a moat
28. 28.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “The microphone stops working before her song” (a) She sings loudly without a microphone (b) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (c) They put on the spare tyre together
29. 29.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) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner (c) The window is opened to let it out
30. 30.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster” (a) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) The blue splash is turned into a lake (c) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
31. 31.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) Wind blows away the rangoli powder (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
32. 32.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Homework is left at home” (a) The earring is found beside a flower stand (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) He is allowed to bring it the next day
33. 33.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) A passing scooter sprayed mud all over his white uniform. (b) Maa quickly gave him a clean spare uniform. (c) One rainy morning, Ayaan walked down the muddy lane.
34. 34.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) A boy saw a poster and came running for Rocky, his puppy. (b) The puppy had a collar, but no owner was nearby. (c) On a Tuesday evening, Pooja found a puppy in her building.
35. 35.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) His running shoes are the wrong size (c) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz
36. 36.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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 tiny puppy was shivering under a broken cart. (b) The puppy crept out and licked her hand. (c) One stormy night, Diya heard a whimper in a lane in Kochi.
37. 37.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) On Pongal morning, Aditi drew a rangoli on the front step. (b) Her brother Sid held up a board to block the wind. (c) A gust of wind blew the coloured powder everywhere.
38. 38.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bicycle chain slips off halfway up a hill” (a) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (b) The baker fixes one letter in icing (c) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
39. 39.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) A baby sparrow had fallen out and was chirping loudly. (b) One spring afternoon, Simran found a nest on her balcony. (c) Dadi held the stool while she put it back in the nest.
40. 40.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A hard word makes her mind go blank” (a) Fresh baking soda makes it fizz (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine

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