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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 21 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 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.He had moved from Ohio in June.
  • B.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  • C.He sat at the back of the bus.
2.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.The school track was behind the gym.
  • C.His dog was called Max.
3.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.Marcus sat by the window in Room 9.
  • B.He liked math best.
  • C.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
4.Read: "Before the camping trip, Dev packed an extra rain jacket. The tent was blue and orange. His sister brought her guitar. On the second night it poured, and Dev's sister borrowed the jacket." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.Before the camping trip, Dev packed an extra rain jacket.
  • B.His sister brought her guitar.
  • C.The tent was blue and orange.
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: "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.Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery.
  • B.June walked to school with her cousin.
  • C.June's mother worked at the post office.
7.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.
8.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.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 21 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 21. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  2. 2.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
  3. 3.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  4. 4.Before the camping trip, Dev packed an extra rain jacket.
  5. 5.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  6. 6.Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery.
  7. 7.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  8. 8.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.

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