Following a Chain of Causes is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on putting the links of a causal chain in order, aligned to Common Core standard RI.4.10. 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 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.Number these to show how a plastic bag reaches the sea.
Rain washes it into a drain.
A turtle mistakes it for a jellyfish.
The river carries it to the sea.
A bag blows out of a trash can.
The drain empties into a river.
2.Number these to show how one fallen line darkened a city.
The station that line fed shuts off.
They switch off to protect themselves.
A storm brings down a power line.
The whole city goes dark.
Other lines take on too much power.
LessonPrint · RI.4.10 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Following a Chain of Causes
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.Correct order: 4, 1, 5, 3, 2
2.Correct order: 3, 1, 5, 2, 4
Questions about Following a Chain of Causes
What does the Following a Chain of Causes worksheet cover?
It practices putting the links of a causal chain in order — 2 questions for Grade 4, all on Common Core RI.4.10: Read and understand Grade 4-5 information texts by the year's end. The instruction to students is “Number the boxes to show the right order”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Following a Chain of Causes practice?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.4.10 — RI.4.10, under Reading: Informational Text for Grade 4. The published standard reads: “By the end of year, read and comprehend informational texts, including history/social studies, science, and technical texts, in the grades 4-5 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Following a Chain of Causes is written for Grade 4, typically ages 9-10. It is one of the sheets on RI.4.10, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Following a Chain of Causes come with an answer key?
Yes. All 2 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 Following a Chain of Causes 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 Following a Chain of Causes free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Following a Chain of Causes, 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 RI.4.10
Read and understand Grade 4-5 information texts by the year's end.