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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 5 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: "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.He had a loud laugh.
  • B.Jonah liked pancakes.
  • C.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
2.Read: "Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery. June's mother worked at the post office. June walked to school with her cousin. When winter came, the cat followed June home and slept by her door." Which earlier detail set up the ending?
  • A.June walked to school with her cousin.
  • B.Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery.
  • C.June's mother worked at the post office.
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.The school track was behind the gym.
  • C.His dog was called Max.
4.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.
5.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.Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born.
  • C.He wore a straw hat in summer.
6.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.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  • B.She drank her tea without sugar.
  • C.Her cat slept on the stairs.
7.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 liked math best.
  • B.Marcus sat by the window in Room 9.
  • C.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
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.Grandpa wrote the spare-key hiding place on a card in Zoe's backpack.
  • B.Her school was three blocks away.
  • C.Zoe played the trumpet.

LessonPrint · RL.4.1 · Set 5 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Which Detail Set Up the Ending?

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Jonah's uncle gave him an old compass for his birthday.
  2. 2.Every morning June fed the stray cat behind the bakery.
  3. 3.Eli's sneakers had a hole in the left toe.
  4. 4.The farmer saw the ants carrying their eggs up the hill.
  5. 5.Mr. Grant planted an acorn on the day his granddaughter was born.
  6. 6.The lighthouse keeper wrote down the name of every ship that passed.
  7. 7.He kept a flashlight in his desk.
  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.