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Which Detail Set Up the Ending? is a free printable Grade 4 English worksheet on finding the earlier detail a story's ending depends on, aligned to Common Core standard RL.4.1. 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 12 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.

Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

RL.4.1

NameDate

Read each story, then circle the right answer.

1.Read: "The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere. He sat at the back of the bus. He had moved from Ohio in June. When the class needed someone to paint the mural, everyone turned to Sami." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.He had moved from Ohio in June.
  • B.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  • C.He sat at the back of the bus.
2.Read: "Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday. Jonah liked pancakes. He had a loud laugh. On the hike, when the trail markers disappeared, Jonah's compass led the group back." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.He had a loud laugh.
  • B.Jonah liked pancakes.
  • C.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
3.Read: "Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet. Rae was eleven. They lived on a quiet street. On her brother's birthday, he opened the box and found a new bike." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.Rae was eleven.
  • B.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.
  • C.They lived on a quiet street.
4.Read: "Before the camping trip, Dev packed an extra rain jacket. The tent was blue and orange. His sister brought her guitar. On the second night it poured, and Dev's sister borrowed the jacket." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.His sister brought her guitar.
  • B.The tent was blue and orange.
  • C.Before the camping trip, Dev packed an extra rain jacket.
5.Read: "Leo's grandmother taught him to whistle loudly with two fingers. They lived near the river. Leo's favorite color was green. When Leo got lost at the fair, he whistled, and his grandmother found him in minutes." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.Leo's favorite color was green.
  • B.They lived near the river.
  • C.Leo's grandmother taught him to whistle loudly with two fingers.
6.Read: "Ana crossed the old bridge every day on her way to school. She noticed that its railing was loose. The river below was full of fish. A week later, after Ana's letter to the mayor, workers fixed the railing." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.The river below was full of fish.
  • B.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  • C.Ana crossed the old bridge every day on her way to school.
7.Read: "The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed. Her cat slept on the stairs. She drank her tea without sugar. Years later, her notebooks helped a museum name a lost ship." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.Her cat slept on the stairs.
  • B.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  • C.She drank her tea without sugar.
8.Read: "Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery. June's mother worked at the post office. June walked to school with her cousin. When winter came, the cat followed June home and slept by her door." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery.
  • B.June walked to school with her cousin.
  • C.June's mother worked at the post office.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 12 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 12. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  2. 2.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  3. 3.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.
  4. 4.Before the camping trip, Dev packed an extra rain jacket.
  5. 5.Leo's grandmother taught him to whistle loudly with two fingers.
  6. 6.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  7. 7.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  8. 8.Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.4.1 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.