IDENTIFYING ERRORS TO IMPROVE PROBLEM SOLVING #1 Directions: Read each sentence, cross out the error, then write in an appropriate solution. 1. We vacuumed the floor with the mop. 2. It rained for two years. 3. School starts promptly at midnight. 4. I went to the clothing store to buy dog food. 5. Susan wore her boots so she could see better. 6. The cat caught a raccoon. 7. She drank a tall glass of gasoline. 8. She put on her hearing aids to go to sleep. 9. Karen’s eyes were a beautiful bright orange. 10. Her broken hip was repaired by the electrician. 11. Mary wore her shoes on her hands. 12. Jim cut his steak with a pair of scissors. 13. The bologna melted in the freezer. 14. Amber wore her bathing suit to church. 15. Tim called his mother on the computer. 16. He filled the bathtub with iced tea before taking a bath. 17. She wrapped the curtain that matched her outfit around her neck. 18. She fried the eggs in the coffee mug. 19. It was so cold; they turned on the air conditioner. 20. The bird drove the car to the grocery store. Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller IDENTIFYING ERRORS TO IMPROVE PROBLEM SOLVING #2 Directions: Read each sentence, cross out the error, then write in an appropriate solution. 1. The farmer planted several rows of appliances in his garden. 2. She felt so good she went to see the doctor. 3. The policeman sorted and delivered the mail. 4. He lit the fire with a piece of spaghetti. 5. Grandma will be ten years old on her birthday this year. 6. When they went to California, they saw the Statue of Liberty. 7. She took two muffins tins of water to help get rid of her headache. 8. Mother went to the bank to buy her groceries. 9. The cat was red with yellow stripes. 10. The train flew from New York to England in less than four hours. 11. She added two teaspoons of baby powder to her iced tea. 12. Josh drove his car on the sidewalk. 13. The lady was mad so she gave everyone a hug. 14. Her anniversary in on May 32nd. 15. He turned on the radio to watch his favorite television show. 16. She checked out a book in Spanish because she only speaks English. 17. The shorts cost $15.00, so she gave the clerk a $5.00 bill. 18. He was tired so he stayed up all night. 19. The baby drove the car to the restaurant. 20. She had the flu so she went in to work. Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller IDENTIFYING INCORRECT SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS Directions: Read the problems below and state why the solution was incorrect, and then provide a better solution. You are having chest pains, so you sit down on the couch and wait for them to go away. You have a splinter in your hand, so you dig it out with a pocket knife. Your mouth is extremely dry from taking a new medication, so you stop taking the medication. You get a popcorn kernel stuck between your teeth, so you leave it in and hope it will come out on its own. Your cholesterol is high, so you eat lots of fried foods in hopes that it will lower it. You feel dizzy when you stand up, so you grab on to the furniture and walk towards the bathroom. You begin to see double images, so you call the eye doctor to see if he can check your glasses. Your fingernail rips below the nail line, so you super glue it back on. You get a black eye, so you put heat on it to decrease the swelling. You have laryngitis, so you decide it would be a good day to return phone calls and make appointments. You break your tooth off, so you use Fixodent to glue it back into place. You pull a muscle in your back but continue to unload groceries from the car hoping to work it out. You slice your finger open while cutting vegetables. Your finger begins to bleed, but you continue to cut the vegetables. You phone bill is $10.00 higher than usual. You decide to go ahead and pay it because maybe your phone bill went up. You are going to a party but left the directions at home. You decide to drive around until you recognize someone’s car who is going to the party too. Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller PROBLEM SOLVING FOR MEDICAL SITUATIONS Directions: Read the problems below and provide the best and safest answers. 1. You are sitting in your chair and you drop something on the floor, but you can’t reach it. What should you do? 2. The nurses told you not to get up by yourself, but you really need to go to the bathroom. What should you do? 3. You are transferring from your chair to the bed. What’s the first thing you always do before standing up from your chair? 4. The doctor makes rounds Monday and Wednesday mornings. On Saturday, you think of several questions you would like to ask him about medication and your medical status. At times you can be forgetful. What should you do? 5. You’ve called the nurse to help you go to the bathroom, but after 10 minutes she hasn’t shown up. What do you do? 6. You take your medications every day after breakfast. It’s 11:00a.m. and the nurse still hasn’t brought you your medications. What do you do? 7. The left side of you face is droopy. Your speech is slurred and your left side is becoming clumsy. What do you think is happening and what should you do? 8. You have physical therapy in an hour. During and after physical therapy you have some moderate pain in your knees and back. How can you be proactive in helping to prevent this pain? 9. After exercising, you have pain radiating up your right arm. You are short of breath and have tightness in your chest. What could be happening and what should you do? 10. You started a new medication for blood pressure but it makes you feel dizzy and sick. You don’t want to take it anymore. What should you do? Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller PROBLEM SOLVING FOR HOME & COMMUNITY #1 Directions: Read the problems below and provide the best solutions. 1. You are driving down the road and you realize that your car is running out of gas. What should you do in this situation? 2. You want to send a birthday card to your friend, but you can’t find their address anywhere. How can you get their address? 3. You are at home alone and begin to feel very sick. You try to call a family member, but there is no answer. What should you do? 4. You look out the window and see your neighbor’s house on fire. What do you do? 5. You receive a package in the mail. When you open it, you notice several items you ordered are missing. What do you do? 6. A new beautician/barber cuts and fixes your hair. You are unhappy with the way it looks. What would you do? 7. A man shows up at your door offering to complete some repairs on your home. You are unsure if his company is a legitimate company. What should you do? 8. You are going on a vacation and will be gone several weeks. You have a dog and a cat. What should you do with them while you’re gone? 9. A salesman keeps calling your phone and leaving messages. You are not interested in what he is selling. What do you do? 10. You are looking at your cell phone bill and notice you have been charged twice for texting and data. What do you do? Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller PROBLEM SOLVING FOR HOME & COMMUNITY #2 Directions: Read the problems below and provide the best solutions. 1. You receive a late notice for your car payment. You look and note that you paid this payment several weeks earlier. What should you do? 2. You park your car in a parking garage and can’t remember where you parked. What can you do to find your car? 3. You read in the newspaper that a restaurant you recently ate at has had an outbreak of e-coli. What do you do? 4. You get home and start to unlock your door but realize your house key is locked inside. How do you unlock your door? 5. You get stopped for speeding and realize you don’t have your insurance verification form. What should you do? 6. If you have an emergency what number should you dial? 7. If you forgot to take your medicine at the scheduled time, what should you do? 8. You’ve missed placed your cell phone and have no idea where it is. What would you do? 9. After breakfast you go to take your medication and realize the label says, “Causes drowsiness.” You need to go and run a few errands sometime today. What should you do? 10. A friend gives you an unexpected Christmas gift. However, you didn’t buy your friend anything. What do you do? Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller PROBLEM SOLVING FOR HOME & COMMUNITY #3 Directions: Read the problems below and provide the best solutions. 1. You were invited to a party Friday night, but you can’t remember what time the party starts. What do you do? 2. You are cooking dinner in the kitchen, and your food catches on fire. What do you do? 3. You are watching the weather, it predicts there is a big ice storm coming your way that may cause power outages in a large area of your town. What should you do? 4. You get in your car to go to your doctor’s appointment, and your car won’t start. What do you do? 5. You sit down to pay your bills. You pay the first one, and then realize you are out of checks. What would you do? 6. You turned on and used the iron to iron your pants before church. While sitting in church you realize you forgot to turn off the iron. What do you do? 7. The tire light starts flashing on the dash of your car. What do you do? 8. You get home from the grocery store and realize several items you purchased are missing. You continue looking and realize you must have left a bag or two of groceries at the grocery store. What do you do? 9. You write a check to pay for the clothing you purchased. The department store clerk asks to see your driver’s license which you must have forgotten at home. What can you do? 10.You open the dishwasher and start putting up the dishes. You notice several of the dishes are still dirty. What do you do? Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller PROBLEM SOLVING FOR HOME & COMMUNITY #4 Directions: Read the problems below and provide the best answer. 1. It is icy out but you really need to go to the grocery store. What do you do? 2. Your battery on your cell phone is running low but you are expecting an important phone call. What would you do? 3. You miss your scheduled doctor’s appointment. What should you do? 4. You notice a suspicious car driving around your neighborhood. What do you do? 5. You pay the clerk for several items you purchased at the quick shop. However, you realize they didn’t give you the correct change. What do you do? 6. They deliver your prescription to your house. Once they leave, you realize they delivered the wrong medicine. What do you do? 7. You bite down on a piece of popcorn and suddenly feel pain in your tooth. What do you do about your tooth? 8. You order and pick up your food through the drive through window. When you pull out of the restaurant parking lot, you realize they gave you the wrong food. What should you do? 9. The lady in front of you at the grocery store doesn’t have enough money to pay for her groceries. What do you do? 10.You’ve been waiting for your doctor’s nurse to call you back concerning important medical testing results. She still hasn’t called and it’s 5:30 p.m. What should you do? Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller PROBLEM SOLVING FOR HOME & COMMUNITY #5 Directions: Read the problems below and provide the best answer. 1. Someone calls and leaves a message asking for you to call them back, but they don’t leave a phone number. What should you do? 2. You open your mailbox and notice several letters are addressed to someone else. What would you do? 3. A shirt you received as a gift doesn’t fit. What do you do? 4. Someone is knocking at your door but you don’t recognize who it is? What should you do? 5. You forget your login and password to check your email? How can you check your email? 6. While talking on your cell phone in the mountains, you notice that you have been disconnected? What would you do? 7. You buy several items that are advertised on sale, but they ring up at the regular price. What do you do? 8. While driving down the highway, you see a sign that says “pay toll ahead.” You realize you don’t have any money to pay the toll. What do you do? 9. The check engine light begins to flash on the control panel in your car. You are 20 miles from home. What should you do? 10. You borrow a cookbook from your friend. She calls and asks for it back, but you can’t find it. What do you do? Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller REASONS & SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS #1 Directions: 1. Read each problem. 2. State two reasons each of these problems could occur. 3. Provide a good logical solution for each of these problems. 1. You are watching television. You try to change the channel with the remote but nothing happens. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 2. You go to pay for items you purchased and realize you don’t have your wallet. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 3. You realize you are going to be late for your doctor’s appointment. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 4. You are driving home and your car begins to make a strange noise. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller 5. You have been shopping at the mall. When you get back to your car you can’t find your wallet. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 6. You turn the thermostat up in your home, but the heat will not come on. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 7. You are sitting in your favorite chair reading a magazine when the tornado sirens go off. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 8. You are speaking to your daughter on the phone, and suddenly the connection is lost. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 9. You let your dog outside in your backyard. When you go to check on him, he is missing. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ . Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller REASONS & SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS #2 Directions: 1. Read each problem. 2. State two reasons each of these problems could occur. 3. Provide a good logical solution for each of these problems. 1. You are finishing up your Christmas shopping and notice a wallet lying on the ground outside of the store. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 2. You are dusting your house and notice a puddle of water around your fireplace. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 3. You want to read in bed before going to sleep. You turn on your lamp but the light doesn’t come on. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 4. You are vacationing aboard a luxurious cruise liner and suddenly become ill. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller 5. You have been trying to call your elderly mother all day but there is no answer. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 6. When you walk into your kitchen you smell natural gas. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 7. The city notifies you that your neighborhood has been placed on a mandatory water rationing. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 8. You go to take a bath but there is no hot water. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 9. Your car starts buzzing and flashing the seatbelt sign. You go to put on your seatbelt but it won’t snap into the buckle. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller REASONS & SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS #3 Directions: 1. Read each problem. 2. State two reasons each of these problems could occur. 3. Provide a good logical solution for each of these problems. 1. You turn off the water in the shower, but there’s still water standing in the bathtub. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 2. After drying clothes in the dryer for 40 minutes they are still wet. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 3. You go outside and notice all the plants in your flower bed are drooping. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 4. You order pizza and request that it be delivered to your home, but it never shows up. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller 5. The lights go out and the appliances no longer work. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 6. You turn on the television to watch your favorite show but it isn’t on. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 7. It is painful when you chew food on the right side of your mouth. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 8. In the morning, you go outside and notice there’s trash all over your yard. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 9. You receive your electric bill and notice it is much higher than previous months. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller REASONS & SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS #4 Directions: 1. Read each problem. 2. State two reasons each of these problems could occur. 3. Provide a good logical solution for each of these problems. 1. While driving in the rain on a remote highway, your car engine begins to sputter. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 2. The fire alarm in your home begins to go off. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 3. You are driving down the highway and see flashing lights behind you. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 4. Your house has been for sale for 3 months but no one has made an offer. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller 5. The past few days you have noticed a bad odor in your home. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 6. You need to borrow money for a new car but were turned down. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 7. While balancing your checkbook, you notice that your bank statement doesn’t match your records. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 8. While doing laundry, you notice that the water is not draining out of the washing machine. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 9. A close family member who borrowed money from you still hasn’t paid you back. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller REASONS & SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS #5 Directions: 1. Read each problem. 2. State two reasons each of these problems could occur. 3. Provide a good logical solution for each of these problems. 1. Mid-morning you go to get your newspaper and it’s not there. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 2. A friend calls and says they will be there in 30 minutes. One hour later they haven’t shown up. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 3. You keep getting phone calls for someone else on your cell phone. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 4. You buy something and decide to take it back. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller 5. You are overdrawn at the bank. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 6. The company hired to fix your roof has completed the job, but you don’t want to pay them. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 7. A street you are trying to travel on is blocked off. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 8. You are having trouble making and receiving calls on your cell phone. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 9. Your computer won’t turn on when you push the button. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller REASONS & SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS #6 Directions: 1. Read each problem. 2. State two reasons each of these problems could occur. 3. Provide a good logical solution for each of these problems. 1. When you get home you notice your milk has leaked all over the bag. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 2. You need to mow your lawn but your lawn mower won’t start. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 3. A lady in the store starts talking to you and appears to think she knows you. You are unable to recall who she is. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 4. You are told information about a friend you know is not true. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller 5. You begin to have frequent headaches. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 6. The new medicine you are taking is making you feel dizzy. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 7. You dial the hospital’s number, but no one answers. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 8. You buy a cabinet at the store. When you unpack it at home, you notice it is scratched. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ 9. You can’t find you bowling shirt, and you have to wear it tonight for team pictures. • Reason #1: _________________________________________________ • Reason #2: _________________________________________________ • Solution: ___________________________________________________ Copyright © 2019 Robin Brittney Buller
