Problem and Solution Reading Passages and Questions

Which type of text structure describes an issue and at least one way to solve it?

• Chronological
• Cause & Effect
• Problem & Solution
• Compare/Contrast

Another term for the conflict 

• Compare
•  Cause 
• Effect 
• Problem

How the text is organized 

• Text Structure 
• Text Features 
• Contrast
•  Effect

How the conflict is solved 

• Sequence 
• Solution 
• Cause 
• Description

Which of the following passages has a problem and solution text structure?

• Roberto likes to sing. He is part of the choir and was in a school play. Roberto even enjoys singing in the shower. The only time Roberto doesn't sing is when he's sick and singing hurts his throat.
  
• Diana's frisbee is stuck in the tree. She's not tall enough to reach it. First, she tries jumping, but she can't jump high enough. It's still slightly out of reach. As a result, Diana uses a ladder. The ladder makes her tall enough to grab the frisbee.

In the passage below, which signal word is used to point out the solution?
When she was small, Masha made a time capsule. She put pictures and memories in a box. Then, she buried it in her yard 10 steps from a tree. Now, she is digging for the time capsule. She cannot find it. Masha tries digging deeper, but the time capsule is not there. Masha realizes that she is digging in the wrong place. She concludes that her steps were smaller as a child and tries recounting her steps. After more digging, Masha finds the box.

• after
• when
• concludes
• remember

In the passage below, which signal words are used to point out the problem?
Bjorn is painting a picture of snowy mountains. He wants to make it as realistic as possible. He only has red, yellow and green paints. The puzzle is that Bjorn will need more colors to paint snow. Bjorn decides to buy white and blue paint so that the snow will be the right color.

• as realistic as
• the puzzle is
• decides to
• so that

Identify the problem in the passage below.

Lynn has a test tomorrow, but she also has a track meet tonight. She needs to study so she can get an A on the test. Lynn knows she won't be running in every race. Therefore, she concludes that she can study in between her races.

• Lynn needs to study, but she also has a track meet.
• Lynn needs to run fast enough to beat her rival.
• Lynn doesn't want to run her race.
• Lynn will run in every race.

Identify the solution in the passage below.
Kelvin makes himself a bowl of soup. The bowl is still hot when he picks it up, and he drops it in surprise. It shatters when it hits the ground. There is soup and glass everywhere. Kelvin does not want to cut himself on the glass, and he needs to clean up the soup. First, Kelvin uses a thick towel to pick up the glass pieces. Then, he cleans up the soup with a mop. When the floor is clean, Kelvin makes himself a new bowl of soup.

• Kelvin drops the bowl of soup.
• Kelvin does not want to cut himself.
• Kelvin makes himself a new bowl of soup.
• Kelvin uses a thick towel and mop to clean up.

Identify the problem in the passage below.
Ava's dance teacher assigns her a partner, Lise. This causes a dilemma for Ava, because she already has a solo dance planned. Lise proposes a solution. She suggests that they can both do the same routine side-by-side. This way, Ava can still do the same routine. Ava likes the idea. The side-by-side dance gets Ava and Lise a standing ovation at their show.

• Lise suggests doing the dance side-by-side.
• Ava already has a solo dance planned.
• Ava and Lise get a standing ovation.
• Lise does not have a partner.