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Say It Shorter is a free printable Grade 1 English worksheet on retelling an information text in one sentence, aligned to Common Core standard RI.1.2. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions, 18 of them with 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.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. 18 of these 25 sets ask different questions — this skill does not have 25 questions to give. The rest reorder them, so no two pupils have the same paper in front of them.

Say It Shorter

RI.1.2

NameDate

Read the text, then answer the questions.

1.Read the text, then answer the questions.

What Roots Do

Roots grow down while the stem grows up. They do two jobs. First, roots hold the plant in the ground. A tall tree in a storm stays up because its roots spread wide under the soil. Second, roots drink. Tiny hairs on the roots take in water from the soil. The water travels up the stem to the leaves. A plant with damaged roots wilts, even if it is watered.

  1. 1. Summarise this text in one sentence.
2.Read the text, then answer the questions.

How a Bridge Stands Up

A bridge has to hold its own weight and the weight of everything crossing it. The simplest bridge is a beam: a flat piece laid across a gap. A beam bridge cannot be very long, or it sags in the middle. An arch bridge is curved. The curve pushes the weight out to the ends, where the ground is solid. That is why arch bridges can cross wider gaps.

  1. 1. Summarise this text in one sentence.

LessonPrint · RI.1.2 · Set 23 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Say It Shorter

Set 23. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Roots hold a plant steady in the soil and take up the water that travels to its leaves.
  2. 2.1. Bridges must hold weight, and an arch does it over a wider gap than a flat beam can.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RI.1.2 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.