Clues About What Happens Next is a free printable Grade 3 English worksheet on finding the sentence that hints at what is about to happen, aligned to Common Core standard RL.3.1. 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 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
1.Read: "The goat kept chewing the rope that tied it to the post. Farmer Bell went into the barn. The hens clucked in the yard." Which sentence hints that the goat might get loose?
A.The hens clucked in the yard.
B.Farmer Bell went into the barn.
C.The goat kept chewing the rope that tied it to the post.
2.Read: "The library book was due on Monday. Theo pushed it under his bed and forgot it. He spent Sunday at the beach." Which sentence hints that the book will be late?
A.The library book was due on Monday.
B.He spent Sunday at the beach.
C.Theo pushed it under his bed and forgot it.
3.Read: "Nia set the table for six people. One plate near the edge wobbled. She smiled at her friends." Which sentence hints that something is about to fall?
A.Nia set the table for six people.
B.She smiled at her friends.
C.One plate near the edge wobbled.
4.Read: "The ice on the pond was thin and gray. Jo laced up her skates. Her brother waved from the bench." Which sentence hints that the ice might crack?
A.Jo laced up her skates.
B.Her brother waved from the bench.
C.The ice on the pond was thin and gray.
5.Read: "Ben packed his lunch and his library book. He forgot to zip his backpack. He ran for the bus." Which sentence hints that Ben might lose something?
A.He ran for the bus.
B.He forgot to zip his backpack.
C.Ben packed his lunch and his library book.
6.Read: "Owen's shoelace was untied. He ran down the hall to class. The bell had not rung yet." Which sentence hints that Owen might trip?
A.Owen's shoelace was untied.
B.He ran down the hall to class.
C.The bell had not rung yet.
7.Read: "Mr. Diaz put the cookies in the oven. Then the phone rang, and he talked for a long time. His cat slept on the rug." Which sentence hints that the cookies might burn?
A.Mr. Diaz put the cookies in the oven.
B.Then the phone rang, and he talked for a long time.
C.His cat slept on the rug.
8.Read: "The puppy sniffed at the open gate. Lila was busy with her homework. The street outside was quiet." Which sentence hints that the puppy might run off?
A.The street outside was quiet.
B.Lila was busy with her homework.
C.The puppy sniffed at the open gate.
LessonPrint · RL.3.1 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Clues About What Happens Next
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.The goat kept chewing the rope that tied it to the post.
2.Theo pushed it under his bed and forgot it.
3.One plate near the edge wobbled.
4.The ice on the pond was thin and gray.
5.He forgot to zip his backpack.
6.Owen's shoelace was untied.
7.Then the phone rang, and he talked for a long time.
8.The puppy sniffed at the open gate.
Questions about Clues About What Happens Next
What does the Clues About What Happens Next worksheet cover?
It practices finding the sentence that hints at what is about to happen — 8 questions for Grade 3, all on Common Core RL.3.1: Answer questions about a story by pointing at the words that prove it. The instruction to students is “Read each one, then circle the right answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Clues About What Happens Next practice?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.1 — RL.3.1, under Reading: Literature for Grade 3. The published standard reads: “Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Clues About What Happens Next is written for Grade 3, typically ages 8-9. It is one of the sheets on RL.3.1, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Clues About What Happens Next come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.
How many different versions of Clues About What Happens Next can I print?
25 — one per student, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.
Is Clues About What Happens Next free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Clues About What Happens Next, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.
More practice for RL.3.1
Answer questions about a story by pointing at the words that prove it.