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Once Upon a Time is a free printable Grade 2 English worksheet on what a story's beginning and ending do for the reader, aligned to Common Core standard RL.2.5. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 16 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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

Once Upon a Time

RL.2.5

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1.In many tales, something happens three times. What does that do?
  • A.It builds up to the most important time
  • B.It tells you the story is over
  • C.It makes the story true
2.Why do so many old tales start with the same words?
  • A.Because the writer forgot how to start
  • B.Because the words rhyme
  • C.Readers know at once what kind of story it will be
3.Which line is most likely to end a fairy tale?
  • A.Once upon a time, there was a giant.
  • B.Long ago, a giant lived on a hill.
  • C.And from that day on, the giant never came back.
4.A story opens "It was the night before the big race." What does this beginning do?
  • A.Ends the story
  • B.Tells who won the race
  • C.Tells the reader when the story happens and hints at what is coming
5.What is the main job of the ending of a story?
  • A.To give the title
  • B.To meet the characters for the first time
  • C.To finish the action and show how things turned out
6.A story ends "...and so the little red hen ate the bread all by herself." What has the ending done?
  • A.Shown what happened because of the others' choices
  • B.Introduced a new character
  • C.Started a new problem
7.What is the main job of the beginning of a story?
  • A.To introduce the characters and where they are
  • B.To tell how the problem is solved
  • C.To list the pages
8.In a tale, a wolf says "I'll huff and I'll puff!" again and again. Why repeat it?
  • A.So the reader can join in and expect what comes next
  • B.To show the story has ended
  • C.Because the wolf forgot his words

LessonPrint · RL.2.5 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Once Upon a Time

Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It builds up to the most important time
  2. 2.Readers know at once what kind of story it will be
  3. 3.And from that day on, the giant never came back.
  4. 4.Tells the reader when the story happens and hints at what is coming
  5. 5.To finish the action and show how things turned out
  6. 6.Shown what happened because of the others' choices
  7. 7.To introduce the characters and where they are
  8. 8.So the reader can join in and expect what comes next

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.2.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.