← The solution in a story lesson New set →

Problem and Solution Worksheet

Creative writing lesson 4: The solution in a story · Set 958 · 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.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.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) The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner. (b) One busy morning, Manav walked to the vegetable market. (c) A goat broke its rope and began eating the spinach!
  2. 2.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) The blue splash is turned into a lake
  3. 3.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) A plumber fixes the dripping tap (b) The torn page is mended with tape (c) A puppy has torn a page of a library book
  4. 4.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is solved?
    On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. Ananya stayed calm and checked every jar again. Joseph brought her fresh baking soda from the lab. This time the volcano fizzed, and Ananya won a prize.
    (a) She poured in the vinegar, but nothing happened. (b) On Science Day, Ananya took her volcano to the science fair. (c) Joseph brought her fresh baking soda from the lab.
  5. 5.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 board held up blocks the wind (c) A strong plank and rope make a new seat
  6. 6.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A boy gets lost in a big crowd”
    (a) The window is opened to let it out (b) His name is called on the loudspeaker (c) The shoes are swapped back
  7. 7.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A train is three hours late”
    (a) Solving puzzles together passes the time (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) His name is called on the loudspeaker
  8. 8.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) The window is opened to let it out (c) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
  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) 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.
  10. 10.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A butterfly is trapped at a window”
    (a) They put on the spare tyre together (b) A board held up blocks the wind (c) The window is opened to let it out
  11. 11.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.
  12. 12.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) The shoes are swapped back (b) A train is three hours late (c) Solving puzzles together passes the time
  13. 13.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A bean seed does not sprout”
    (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) Clay on a stick lifts the marble out (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
  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) On her birthday morning, Riya hurried to the bakery. (b) The cake said “Happy Birthday, Rita” instead of Riya! (c) Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing.
  15. 15.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) Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit. (c) On a hot summer night, Sneha read in her flat in Pune.
  16. 16.Read the story. Which sentence tells how the problem is 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) One breezy evening, Tanmay played marbles in the back yard. (b) His lucky blue marble rolled into a deep drain. (c) His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out.
  17. 17.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.
  18. 18.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) A little kitten was stuck behind a water tank. (b) The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk. (c) One cloudy evening, Omkar heard a mew on his rooftop.
  19. 19.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A baby yak wanders away from the herd”
    (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak (c) The box is found under the last seat
  20. 20.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A new girl has no friends at lunch”
    (a) The pot is moved into the sunshine (b) She makes a friend by sharing her lunch (c) A carrot leads the goat back to its owner
  21. 21.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Blue paint spills over a poster”
    (a) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (b) A farmer shows how to put the chain back (c) The blue splash is turned into a lake
  22. 22.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) Waves keep washing the sandcastle away (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
  23. 23.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) A long snake was curled up near the door. (b) Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely. (c) One warm evening, Imran opened the garden shed.
  24. 24.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Waves keep washing the sandcastle away”
    (a) The alarm button brings help (b) It is built higher up with a moat (c) The pot is moved into the sunshine
  25. 25.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Wind blows away the rangoli powder”
    (a) His name is called on the loudspeaker (b) A strong plank and rope make a new seat (c) A board held up blocks the wind
  26. 26.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) Ms Fernandes smiled and showed him how to tape it. (b) On a Friday afternoon, Dev walked into the school library. (c) His puppy had torn a page of the book he borrowed.
  27. 27.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Grandpa cannot find his reading glasses”
    (a) A board held up blocks the wind (b) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh (c) The glasses are found on top of his head
  28. 28.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A puppy is shivering in the cold rain”
    (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) A saucer of milk tempts the kitten out (c) Posters help the owner find the puppy
  29. 29.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) He changes into a clean spare uniform (c) A baby yak wanders away from the herd
  30. 30.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “A hard word makes her mind go blank”
    (a) He changes into a clean spare uniform (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) A board held up blocks the wind
  31. 31.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “An aunt loses a gold earring”
    (a) The baby bird is put back in the nest (b) The earring is found beside a flower stand (c) Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  32. 32.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “Homework is left at home”
    (a) A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out (b) He is allowed to bring it the next day (c) It is built higher up with a moat
  33. 33.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.
  34. 34.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) A tiffin box goes missing at lunch time (b) She sings loudly without a microphone (c) The box is found under the last seat
  35. 35.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) During a dry summer, Aisha saw a problem in the washroom. (c) A tap was dripping, and water was being wasted.
  36. 36.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!
  37. 37.Which is the best solution to this problem?
    “His running shoes are the wrong size”
    (a) The shoes are swapped back (b) A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it (c) The box is found under the last seat
  38. 38.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) On a busy Monday, Meera rode the school bus to class. (c) The red box was hiding under the very last seat.
  39. 39.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) Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch. (c) On the first day of school, Isha walked into a new school.
  40. 40.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) A butterfly was beating its wings against the window. (c) Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside.

Answer key

  1. The goat followed the carrot back to Lakshmi, its owner.
  2. Shadow animals on the wall make him laugh
  3. The torn page is mended with tape
  4. Joseph brought her fresh baking soda from the lab.
  5. The box is found under the last seat
  6. His name is called on the loudspeaker
  7. Solving puzzles together passes the time
  8. Clay on a stick lifts the marble out
  9. He helped her move the pot into the sunshine.
  10. The window is opened to let it out
  11. The puppy crept out and licked her hand.
  12. Solving puzzles together passes the time
  13. The pot is moved into the sunshine
  14. Uncle Jacob, the baker, added a neat y in icing.
  15. Her brother Arjun giggled at a shadow rabbit.
  16. His sister Gita stuck clay on a stick and lifted it out.
  17. Mrs Bose, the guard, called the lift mechanic at once.
  18. The kitten tiptoed out to drink the milk.
  19. Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  20. She makes a friend by sharing her lunch
  21. The blue splash is turned into a lake
  22. It is built higher up with a moat
  23. Mr Reddy, a snake rescuer, carried it away safely.
  24. It is built higher up with a moat
  25. A board held up blocks the wind
  26. Ms Fernandes smiled and showed him how to tape it.
  27. The glasses are found on top of his head
  28. A biscuit and kind words coax the puppy out
  29. Hoofprints lead to the lost baby yak
  30. A rhyme from her teacher helps her spell it
  31. The earring is found beside a flower stand
  32. He is allowed to bring it the next day
  33. The earring was shining beside the flower stand.
  34. The box is found under the last seat
  35. Mr Khan, the plumber, fixed the tap the next day.
  36. At last she laughed, for the glasses were on his head!
  37. The shoes are swapped back
  38. The red box was hiding under the very last seat.
  39. Isha smiled and asked Maria to share her lunch.
  40. Tanvi waved her notebook to guide it outside.

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