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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 25 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.Which is a traditional way to end a tale?
  • A.Long ago and far away.
  • B.Once upon a time.
  • C.The end.
2.Why do so many old tales start with the same words?
  • A.Because the words rhyme
  • B.Because the writer forgot how to start
  • C.Readers know at once what kind of story it will be
3.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
4.In many tales, something happens three times. What does that do?
  • A.It tells you the story is over
  • B.It builds up to the most important time
  • C.It makes the story true
5.In a tale, a wolf says "I'll huff and I'll puff!" again and again. Why repeat it?
  • A.Because the wolf forgot his words
  • B.To show the story has ended
  • C.So the reader can join in and expect what comes next
6.A story ends "...and they lived happily ever after." What does that tell you?
  • A.The story is just beginning
  • B.The story is over and the problem is solved
  • C.Something bad will happen next
7.What is the main job of the beginning of a story?
  • A.To introduce the characters and where they are
  • B.To list the pages
  • C.To tell how the problem is solved
8.Which line is most likely to end a fairy tale?
  • A.Once upon a time, there was a giant.
  • B.And from that day on, the giant never came back.
  • C.Long ago, a giant lived on a hill.

LessonPrint · RL.2.5 · Set 25 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Once Upon a Time

Set 25. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The end.
  2. 2.Readers know at once what kind of story it will be
  3. 3.Tells the reader when the story happens and hints at what is coming
  4. 4.It builds up to the most important time
  5. 5.So the reader can join in and expect what comes next
  6. 6.The story is over and the problem is solved
  7. 7.To introduce the characters and where they are
  8. 8.And from that day on, the giant never came back.

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