Question

Which of following phrases could be used as a basis for a short story?

the life story of a famous musician
a championship basketball game in which a new player is the star
a family mix-up over selecting a birthday present for Dad
an account of three generations of a British family in India
settling the first earth colony on another planet
the mysterious disappearance of a cake from the pantry

Answer 1

(2) a championship basketball game in which a new player is the star.

(3) a family mix-up over selecting a birthday present for Dad.

(6) the mysterious disappearance of a cake from the pantry.

Explanation: correct answers are 2,3,6

Answer 2

I would say that all scenarios that are not too complex could be a basis for a short story, but also in principle, you could shorten and simplify any story to make a short story out of it!

So there is no clear distinction.

But among the options, the better candidates are:

a championship basketball game in which a new player is the star
a family mix-up over selecting a birthday present for Dad
the mysterious disappearance of a cake from the pantry


The other options are potentially too complex.