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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 4 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.Marcus sat by the window in Room 9.
  • B.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  • C.He liked math best.
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.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  • B.Her backpack was purple.
  • C.She liked rainy days.
3.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.
4.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 liked pancakes.
  • B.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  • C.He had a loud laugh.
5.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.
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.The river below was full of fish.
  • B.Ana crossed the old bridge every day on her way to school.
  • C.She noticed that its railing was loose.
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 grandmother taught him to whistle loudly with two fingers.
  • C.Leo's favorite color was green.
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 farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  • B.Her son was learning to drive.
  • C.The barn needed new paint.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 4 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 4. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  2. 2.Pia always counted the steps from her house to the corner: forty-two.
  3. 3.Before the camping trip, Dev packed an extra rain jacket.
  4. 4.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  5. 5.Rae's family hid a big box in the hall closet.
  6. 6.She noticed that its railing was loose.
  7. 7.Leo's grandmother taught him to whistle loudly with two fingers.
  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.