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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 2 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 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.Her son was learning to drive.
  • B.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  • C.The barn needed new paint.
2.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.She liked rainy days.
  • C.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
3.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.June's mother worked at the post office.
  • B.Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery.
  • C.June walked to school with her cousin.
4.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.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  • C.Marcus sat by the window in Room 9.
5.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.
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.His house had a red door.
  • B.Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born.
  • C.He wore a straw hat in summer.
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 liked pancakes.
  • B.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  • C.He had a loud laugh.
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.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.
  • B.Rae was eleven.
  • C.They lived on a quiet street.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  2. 2.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  3. 3.Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery.
  4. 4.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  5. 5.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  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.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.