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In Your Own Words is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on choosing the note that paraphrases without copying or changing the meaning, aligned to Common Core standard W.5.8. 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 21 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.

In Your Own Words

W.5.8

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1.Source: "The first trains were slow, but they could carry far more than a horse and cart." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Early trains moved slowly yet carried much bigger loads than horse-drawn carts.
  • B.The first trains were faster than anything but carried very little.
  • C.The first trains were slow, but they could carry far more than a horse and cart.
2.Source: "Owls can turn their heads much further than people can." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Owls can turn their heads much further than people can.
  • B.An owl can twist its head a lot further than a human.
  • C.Owls cannot move their heads at all.
3.Source: "Camels can go for days without water because they lose very little through sweating." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Camels can go for days without water because they lose very little through sweating.
  • B.Camels sweat a lot, so they need water every hour.
  • C.Because camels sweat so little, they can survive days with no water.
4.Source: "Earthworms mix the soil, which lets air and water reach plant roots." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Earthworms mix the soil, which lets air and water reach plant roots.
  • B.By churning the soil, earthworms help air and water get down to roots.
  • C.Earthworms block air and water from reaching roots.
5.Source: "The glacier has shrunk by half in the last hundred years." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.In a century, the glacier has lost about half its size.
  • B.The glacier has shrunk by half in the last hundred years.
  • C.The glacier has doubled in size in a century.
6.Source: "Most of the town's workers once had jobs at the mill." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.At one time, the mill employed most people who worked in the town.
  • B.Most of the town's workers once had jobs at the mill.
  • C.Nobody in the town ever worked at the mill.
7.Source: "Penguins cannot fly, but they are strong, fast swimmers." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Although penguins are unable to fly, they swim powerfully and quickly.
  • B.Penguins fly well but cannot swim.
  • C.Penguins cannot fly, but they are strong, fast swimmers.
8.Source: "Recycling one can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Recycling one can saves enough energy to run a television for three hours.
  • B.Recycling cans uses up three hours of energy.
  • C.The energy saved by recycling a single can would power a television for three hours.

LessonPrint · W.5.8 · Set 21 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — In Your Own Words

Set 21. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Early trains moved slowly yet carried much bigger loads than horse-drawn carts.
  2. 2.An owl can twist its head a lot further than a human.
  3. 3.Because camels sweat so little, they can survive days with no water.
  4. 4.By churning the soil, earthworms help air and water get down to roots.
  5. 5.In a century, the glacier has lost about half its size.
  6. 6.At one time, the mill employed most people who worked in the town.
  7. 7.Although penguins are unable to fly, they swim powerfully and quickly.
  8. 8.The energy saved by recycling a single can would power a television for three hours.

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to W.5.8 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.