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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 17 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: "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.The school track was behind the gym.
  • B.His dog was called Max.
  • C.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
2.Read: "Tess practiced free throws every evening until dark. Her team wore red. She had two younger brothers. In the final game, Tess made the winning shot from the free-throw line." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.Her team wore red.
  • B.She had two younger brothers.
  • C.Tess practiced free throws every evening until dark.
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.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  • C.Her son was learning to drive.
4.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.
5.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.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  • B.Her backpack was purple.
  • C.She liked rainy days.
6.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.Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born.
  • B.He wore a straw hat in summer.
  • C.His house had a red door.
7.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.Jonah liked pancakes.
  • C.He had a loud laugh.
8.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.Zoe played the trumpet.
  • B.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
  • C.Her school was three blocks away.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 17 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 17. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
  2. 2.Tess practiced free throws every evening until dark.
  3. 3.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  4. 4.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  5. 5.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  6. 6.Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born.
  7. 7.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  8. 8.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.

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