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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 22 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.A story starts "Once upon a time...". What does that tell you?
  • A.It is a list of facts
  • B.It is a true news report
  • C.It is a made-up tale set long ago
2.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
3.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
4.A story ends "...and they lived happily ever after." What does that tell you?
  • A.The story is over and the problem is solved
  • B.Something bad will happen next
  • C.The story is just beginning
5.A story opens "It was the night before the big race." What does this beginning do?
  • A.Ends the story
  • B.Tells the reader when the story happens and hints at what is coming
  • C.Tells who won the race
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.The middle of a story usually shows what?
  • A.The title and the author
  • B.The problem getting bigger and the characters trying to fix it
  • C.The characters living happily ever after
8.Which is a traditional way to end a tale?
  • A.Once upon a time.
  • B.Long ago and far away.
  • C.The end.

LessonPrint · RL.2.5 · Set 22 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Once Upon a Time

Set 22. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It is a made-up tale set long ago
  2. 2.It builds up to the most important time
  3. 3.Readers know at once what kind of story it will be
  4. 4.The story is over and the problem is solved
  5. 5.Tells the reader when the story happens and hints at what is coming
  6. 6.Shown what happened because of the others' choices
  7. 7.The problem getting bigger and the characters trying to fix it
  8. 8.The end.

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