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 4 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
Clues About What Happens Next
RL.3.1
NameDate
Read each one, then circle the right answer.
1.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.Then the phone rang, and he talked for a long time.
B.His cat slept on the rug.
C.Mr. Diaz put the cookies in the oven.
2.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.
3.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.Ben packed his lunch and his library book.
C.He forgot to zip his backpack.
4.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.Lila was busy with her homework.
B.The street outside was quiet.
C.The puppy sniffed at the open gate.
5.Read: "The old ladder had a cracked step. Dad carried it out to the yard. A bird sang in the tree." Which sentence hints that the ladder might break?
A.Dad carried it out to the yard.
B.The old ladder had a cracked step.
C.A bird sang in the tree.
6.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.Farmer Bell went into the barn.
B.The hens clucked in the yard.
C.The goat kept chewing the rope that tied it to the post.
7.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.One plate near the edge wobbled.
B.She smiled at her friends.
C.Nia set the table for six people.
8.Read: "The class play was on Friday. Kai practiced his lines every night for a week. His sister liked to make popcorn." Which sentence hints that Kai will do well in the play?
A.The class play was on Friday.
B.His sister liked to make popcorn.
C.Kai practiced his lines every night for a week.
LessonPrint · RL.3.1 · Set 4 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Clues About What Happens Next
Set 4. Prints on its own sheet.
1.Then the phone rang, and he talked for a long time.
2.The ice on the pond was thin and gray.
3.He forgot to zip his backpack.
4.The puppy sniffed at the open gate.
5.The old ladder had a cracked step.
6.The goat kept chewing the rope that tied it to the post.
7.One plate near the edge wobbled.
8.Kai practiced his lines every night for a week.
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.3.1 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.