Skip to content
LessonPrint

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 16 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

Next set

One paper per student

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425

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 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.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  • B.She drank her tea without sugar.
  • C.Her cat slept on the stairs.
2.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.Her school was three blocks away.
  • B.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
  • C.Zoe played the trumpet.
3.Read: "The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill. The barn needed new paint. Her son was learning to drive. That night the creek flooded the low field, but the ants were safe." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.The barn needed new paint.
  • B.Her son was learning to drive.
  • C.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
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.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  • B.Ana crossed the old bridge every day on her way to school.
  • C.The river below was full of fish.
5.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's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  • C.Jonah liked pancakes.
6.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.Her backpack was purple.
  • B.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  • C.She liked rainy days.
7.Read: "Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe. His dog was called Max. The school track was behind the gym. Halfway through the big race, his shoe split open, and he finished in his socks." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
  • B.His dog was called Max.
  • C.The school track was behind the gym.
8.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.They lived on a quiet street.
  • B.Rae was eleven.
  • C.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 16 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 16. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  2. 2.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
  3. 3.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  4. 4.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  5. 5.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  6. 6.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  7. 7.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
  8. 8.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.

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