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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 3 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: "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.
2.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.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  • B.Ana crossed the old bridge every day on her way to school.
  • C.The river below was full of fish.
3.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.She drank her tea without sugar.
  • B.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  • C.Her cat slept on the stairs.
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.The tent was blue and orange.
  • C.His sister brought her guitar.
5.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.
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: "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: "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.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.
  • B.He had moved from Ohio in June.
  • C.He sat at the back of the bus.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 3 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 3. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  2. 2.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  3. 3.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  4. 4.Before the camping trip, Dev packed an extra rain jacket.
  5. 5.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  6. 6.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.
  7. 7.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  8. 8.The new boy, Sami, carried a sketchbook everywhere.

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