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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 20 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: "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.Her school was three blocks away.
  • C.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
2.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.
3.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.She had two younger brothers.
  • B.Her team wore red.
  • C.Tess practiced free throws every evening until dark.
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.Marcus sat by the window in Room 9.
  • C.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
5.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.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
  • C.His dog was called Max.
6.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.She drank her tea without sugar.
  • C.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
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.He had a loud laugh.
  • C.Jonah liked pancakes.
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.They lived on a quiet street.
  • C.Rae was eleven.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 20 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 20. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
  2. 2.Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born.
  3. 3.Tess practiced free throws every evening until dark.
  4. 4.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  5. 5.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
  6. 6.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  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.