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Who, What, Where, When, Why is a free printable Grade 2 English worksheet on answering the five question words about a story, aligned to Common Core standard RL.2.1. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask 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 21 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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One paper per pupil

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

Who, What, Where, When, Why

RL.2.1

NameDate

Read the story, then answer the questions.

1.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. 1. Where does this story happen?
  2. 2. When did Grandad and Tess walk out to the rock pools?
  3. 3. What did Tess want to take home?
  4. 4. What did Tess see the starfish do?
2.Read the text, then answer the questions.

The New Boy

A new boy called Iosif joined the class in November. He did not speak much English yet. At playtime he stood by the wall. Some children waved. He looked away. Marta noticed he was watching the football. She rolled the ball to him. He stopped it neatly and rolled it back. They passed it for ten minutes without saying a word. When the bell went, Iosif said one word: "Tomorrow?" "Tomorrow," said Marta.

  1. 1. Where does this story happen?
  2. 2. When did Iosif join the class?
  3. 3. What did Marta roll to him?
  4. 4. What one word did Iosif say?

LessonPrint · RL.2.1 · Set 21 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Who, What, Where, When, Why

Set 21. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. At the rock pools, at low tide. 2. Every low tide. 3. A starfish. 4. Move slowly on hundreds of tiny feet.
  2. 2.1. At school, by the wall at playtime. 2. In November. 3. The football. 4. "Tomorrow?"

More practice for RL.2.1

Answer who, what, where, when, why and how questions about a story.

Teaching this next? Who, What, Where, When, Why and How is the 40-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 2 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.2.1 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.