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Why Does the Author Say That? is a free printable Grade 2 English worksheet on explaining how a reason supports a claim, aligned to Common Core standard RI.2.8. 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 20 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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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.

Why Does the Author Say That?

RI.2.8

NameDate

Read the text, then answer the questions.

1.Read the text, then answer the questions.

Earthquakes

The Earth's crust is not one piece. It is broken into huge slabs called plates, and the plates are always moving — about as fast as your fingernails grow. Where two plates meet, they can catch on each other. Pressure builds up for years while they are stuck. When they finally slip, all that stored energy is released at once. The ground shakes. That shaking is an earthquake. Most earthquakes are too small to feel. A few are strong enough to bring down buildings, which is why new buildings in some places are made to sway.

  1. 1. The author says new buildings are made to sway. What reason is given?
  2. 2. How is pressure connected to the shaking?
  3. 3. What does the author want to explain?
2.Read the text, then answer the questions.

Inside a Fire Engine

A fire engine carries everything a crew might need, because there is no time to go back for anything. It holds about eighteen hundred litres of water. That sounds like a lot, but a hose can empty it in under three minutes, so the crew connect to a hydrant as soon as they can. Ladders are carried on the roof. The longest can reach a third-floor window. Inside are cutting tools for road accidents, breathing sets for smoke, and a thermal camera that finds a hot spot through a wall. The engine is red so that it is seen. The siren is for when being seen is not enough.

  1. 1. How is the tank of water connected to the hydrant?
  2. 2. The author says the engine is red. What reason is given?
  3. 3. What does the author want to explain?

LessonPrint · RI.2.8 · Set 20 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Why Does the Author Say That?

Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. Because a few earthquakes are strong enough to bring buildings down. 2. Pressure builds while the plates are stuck, and it is released all at once when they slip. 3. What causes an earthquake and why some are dangerous.
  2. 2.1. The tank runs out in under three minutes, so the crew connect to a hydrant for more. 2. So that it is seen. 3. Why a fire engine carries what it does.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RI.2.8 of the Common Core State Standards for English language arts.