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Paraphrase or Copy? is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on telling a paraphrase from copied or changed words, aligned to Common Core standard W.4.8. 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 19 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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

Paraphrase or Copy?

W.4.8

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1.Source: "Bees turn nectar into honey inside the hive." Which note is a paraphrase?
  • A.Inside their hive, bees make honey from nectar.
  • B.Bees turn nectar into honey inside the hive.
  • C.Bees turn honey into nectar outside the hive.
2.Source: "Frogs lay their eggs in water, and tadpoles hatch from them." Which note is a paraphrase?
  • A.Frogs lay their eggs in water, and tadpoles hatch from them.
  • B.Tadpoles come out of eggs that frogs leave in water.
  • C.Frogs lay their eggs on dry land.
3.Source: "Owls can turn their heads almost all the way around." Which note is a paraphrase?
  • A.Owls cannot move their heads at all.
  • B.An owl is able to twist its head nearly in a full circle.
  • C.Owls can turn their heads almost all the way around.
4.Why should notes be in your own words rather than copied?
  • A.So the notes are longer
  • B.Because copying is faster
  • C.So that you understand the idea and do not pass off the writer's words as yours
5.Source: "The first bicycles had no pedals; riders pushed with their feet." Which note is a paraphrase?
  • A.The first bicycles had no pedals; riders pushed with their feet.
  • B.Early bikes were moved by riders pushing on the ground.
  • C.The first bicycles had engines.
6.Source: "Sharks have been on Earth since before the dinosaurs." Which note is a paraphrase?
  • A.Sharks have been on Earth since before the dinosaurs.
  • B.Sharks appeared after the dinosaurs died out.
  • C.Sharks existed even earlier than dinosaurs.
7.Which is the best description of a paraphrase?
  • A.Your own opinion of the source
  • B.The source's words copied exactly
  • C.The source's meaning written in your own words
8.Source: "Recycling one can saves enough energy to run a TV for hours." Which note is a paraphrase?
  • A.Recycling cans uses up more energy than it saves.
  • B.The energy saved by recycling a can could power a TV for hours.
  • C.Recycling one can saves enough energy to run a TV for hours.

LessonPrint · W.4.8 · Set 19 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Paraphrase or Copy?

Set 19. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Inside their hive, bees make honey from nectar.
  2. 2.Tadpoles come out of eggs that frogs leave in water.
  3. 3.An owl is able to twist its head nearly in a full circle.
  4. 4.So that you understand the idea and do not pass off the writer's words as yours
  5. 5.Early bikes were moved by riders pushing on the ground.
  6. 6.Sharks existed even earlier than dinosaurs.
  7. 7.The source's meaning written in your own words
  8. 8.The energy saved by recycling a can could power a TV for hours.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to W.4.8 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.