What the Challenge Was is a free printable Grade 2 English worksheet on linking a character's action to the problem they faced, aligned to Common Core standard RL.2.3. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions, 24 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 16 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. 24 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.
What the Challenge Was
RL.2.3
NameDate
Read the story, then answer the questions.
1.Read the text, then answer the questions.
The Bread That Would Not Rise
Nana let Ada make the bread on her own for the first time.
Ada measured the flour, the salt and the water. She kneaded the dough until her arms ached. Then she covered the bowl and waited.
An hour later the dough sat in the bowl exactly as she had left it. It had not risen at all.
Nana looked at the packet on the shelf. "You used the salt twice," she said. "There is no yeast in it."
Ada wanted to throw the bowl across the kitchen. Instead she washed it out and started again.
1. How does Ada respond to her mistake?
2. Why did Nana look at the packet on the shelf?
3. What does starting again tell you about Ada?
2.Read the text, then answer the questions.
What the Tide Left
Every low tide, Grandad and Tess walked out to the rock pools.
Tess wanted to take a starfish home. Grandad said no. "It would die in a bucket," he said. "Look at it here instead."
Tess crouched for a long time. She saw the starfish move — slowly, on hundreds of tiny feet she had not known it had.
She did not ask again. On the way back she said, "It's better in the pool anyway."
1. How does Tess respond when Grandad says no?
2. Why did Tess stop asking?
3. What does Grandad do instead of just refusing?
LessonPrint · RL.2.3 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — What the Challenge Was
Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.
1.1. She is furious, but she starts again instead of giving up. 2. To work out what had gone wrong with the dough. 3. She is determined — she washed the bowl out and started the bread again instead of throwing it.
2.1. She crouches and watches the starfish for a long time instead of arguing. 2. Because watching the starfish move showed her it belonged in the pool. 3. He gives a reason and tells her to look at it where it is.
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.2.3 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.