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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 25 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: "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.His dog was called Max.
  • B.The school track was behind the gym.
  • C.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
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: "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.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  • C.The river below was full of fish.
4.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.
5.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.
6.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.
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: "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.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 25 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 25. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
  2. 2.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  3. 3.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  4. 4.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  5. 5.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  6. 6.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.
  7. 7.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  8. 8.Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born.

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