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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 24 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.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  • B.Her son was learning to drive.
  • C.The barn needed new paint.
2.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 was eleven.
  • B.They lived on a quiet street.
  • C.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.
3.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.His dog was called Max.
  • C.The school track was behind the gym.
4.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.Tess practiced free throws every evening until dark.
  • C.Her team wore red.
5.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.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
  • B.Zoe played the trumpet.
  • C.Her school was three blocks away.
6.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.She liked rainy days.
  • B.Her backpack was purple.
  • C.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
7.Read: "Leo's grandmother taught him to whistle loudly with two fingers. They lived near the river. Leo's favorite color was green. When Leo got lost at the fair, he whistled, and his grandmother found him in minutes." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.They lived near the river.
  • B.Leo's favorite color was green.
  • C.Leo's grandmother taught him to whistle loudly with two fingers.
8.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.The tent was blue and orange.
  • C.His sister brought her guitar.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 24 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 24. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  2. 2.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.
  3. 3.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
  4. 4.Tess practiced free throws every evening until dark.
  5. 5.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
  6. 6.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  7. 7.Leo's grandmother taught him to whistle loudly with two fingers.
  8. 8.Before the camping trip, Dev packed an extra rain jacket.

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