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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 13 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: "Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born. He wore a straw hat in summer. His house had a red door. Forty years later, his granddaughter read books in the shade of the huge oak in his yard." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.His house had a red door.
  • B.He wore a straw hat in summer.
  • C.Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born.
2.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.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  • B.He sat at the back of the bus.
  • C.He had moved from Ohio in June.
3.Read: "Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack. Zoe played the trumpet. Her school was three blocks away. The day Grandpa's bus was late, Zoe read the card and let herself in." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
  • B.Zoe played the trumpet.
  • C.Her school was three blocks away.
4.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.Ana crossed the old bridge every day on her way to school.
  • B.The river below was full of fish.
  • C.She noticed that its railing was loose.
5.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.She drank her tea without sugar.
  • B.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  • C.Her cat slept on the stairs.
6.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.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  • B.He had a loud laugh.
  • C.Jonah liked pancakes.
7.Read: "Marcus sat by the window in Room 9. He kept a flashlight in his desk. He liked math best. That afternoon the power went out, and Marcus lit the way to the door." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.He liked math best.
  • B.Marcus sat by the window in Room 9.
  • C.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
8.Read: "Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two. Her backpack was purple. She liked rainy days. When fog hid the whole street one morning, Pia counted forty-two steps and found the corner." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.She liked rainy days.
  • B.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  • C.Her backpack was purple.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 13 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 13. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born.
  2. 2.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  3. 3.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
  4. 4.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  5. 5.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  6. 6.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  7. 7.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  8. 8.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.

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