Reading a Poem or a Story is a free printable Grade 1 English worksheet on following a longer text well enough to retell and explain it, aligned to Common Core standard RL.1.10. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 23 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

One paper per pupil

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Reading a Poem or a Story

RL.1.10

NameDate

Read the story, then answer the questions.

1.Read the text, then answer the questions.

The Boots by the Door

Priya's boots were too small. Her toes pressed against the ends. But they were red, and she loved them. For a week she said nothing. Then she could not run at playtime without it hurting. She told her mum. Her mum did not laugh. They took the red boots to the charity shop and found a bigger pair, green this time. Priya kept the red ones by the door for a month before she let them go.

1. Why did Priya keep the red boots by the door?
2. How does the beginning of the story set up the problem?
3. Retell the story in your own words.

2.Read the text, then answer the questions.

Too Loud

The school band practised in the hall every Thursday. Sam played the drum. He liked it best when he could hit it hard. "Softer," said Mrs Otu. "The flutes cannot be heard." Sam did not want to play softly. But he tried it. This time he could hear the flutes too, winding above the drum like a bird. It sounded better than anything he had played before.

1. How does the story begin?
2. Why could the flutes not be heard at first?
3. Retell the story in your own words.

LessonPrint · RL.1.10 · Set 23 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Reading a Poem or a Story

Set 23. Prints on its own sheet.

1.1. Because she was not ready to let go of them yet. 2. It says the boots were too small but that she loved them, which is the whole difficulty. 3. Priya's red boots were too small, she said nothing for a week, then told her mum and got bigger green ones.
2.1. It tells us when the band practises and what Sam played. 2. Because Sam was hitting the drum too hard. 3. Sam liked hitting his drum hard, his teacher asked him to play softly, and it sounded better when he did.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.1.10 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.