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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 23 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: "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 kept a flashlight in his desk.
  • B.He liked math best.
  • C.Marcus sat by the window in Room 9.
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.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.
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.Tess practiced free throws every evening until dark.
  • B.Her team wore red.
  • C.She had two younger brothers.
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: "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 sat at the back of the bus.
  • B.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  • C.He had moved from Ohio in June.
6.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.Ana crossed the old bridge every day on her way to school.
  • B.The river below was full of fish.
  • C.She noticed that its railing was loose.
7.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.
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 23 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 23. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  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.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  5. 5.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  6. 6.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  7. 7.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  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.