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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 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.

In Your Own Words

W.5.8

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1.Source: "Bees carry pollen from flower to flower, which helps the plants make seeds." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Bees carry pollen from flower to flower, which helps the plants make seeds.
  • B.Bees eat pollen so that plants cannot make seeds.
  • C.Moving pollen between flowers, bees help plants produce seeds.
2.Source: "Earthworms mix the soil, which lets air and water reach plant roots." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Earthworms block air and water from reaching roots.
  • B.By churning the soil, earthworms help air and water get down to roots.
  • C.Earthworms mix the soil, which lets air and water reach plant roots.
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.Why is it not enough to change one or two words of a source and call it your own?
  • A.Changing two words always makes a paraphrase
  • B.Paraphrases must be longer than the source
  • C.The sentence is still the author's, so it is copying, not paraphrasing
5.Source: "Penguins cannot fly, but they are strong, fast swimmers." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Penguins fly well but cannot swim.
  • B.Although penguins are unable to fly, they swim powerfully and quickly.
  • C.Penguins cannot fly, but they are strong, fast swimmers.
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: "Sea otters wrap themselves in kelp so they do not drift away while they sleep." Which note is a fair paraphrase?
  • A.Sea otters wrap themselves in kelp so they do not drift away while they sleep.
  • B.Sea otters eat kelp before they swim away.
  • C.To keep from drifting while they sleep, sea otters wind kelp around their bodies.
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.The energy saved by recycling a single can would power a television for three hours.
  • C.Recycling cans uses up three hours of energy.

LessonPrint · W.5.8 · Set 5 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — In Your Own Words

Set 5. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.Moving pollen between flowers, bees help plants produce seeds.
  2. 2.By churning the soil, earthworms help air and water get down to roots.
  3. 3.Because camels sweat so little, they can survive days with no water.
  4. 4.The sentence is still the author's, so it is copying, not paraphrasing
  5. 5.Although penguins are unable to fly, they swim powerfully and quickly.
  6. 6.At one time, the mill employed most people who worked in the town.
  7. 7.To keep from drifting while they sleep, sea otters wind kelp around their bodies.
  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.