Same Theme, Different Handling is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on comparing what two short texts each do with a shared theme, aligned to Common Core standard RL.5.9. 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 15 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.
Same Theme, Different Handling
RL.5.9
NameDate
Circle the right answer.
1.Both stories are about friendship. Story A is told by a girl whose friend moves away. Story B is told by the friend who moved. What does Story B add?
A.Why friendships never last
B.What the first girl ate for tea
C.How it feels to be the one who leaves
2.Both stories are about moving house. Story A is funny and ends happily. Story B is quiet and ends sadly. What differs most between them?
A.Their topic
B.Their genre
C.Their tone
3.Myth A: Orpheus loses Eurydice because he looks back. Myth B: Pandora releases troubles because she lifts the lid. What do both myths share?
A.One moment of doubt or curiosity changes everything
B.Both are set in the underworld
C.Both end with a wedding
4.Story A: a climber turns back before the summit to help a friend. Story B: a runner stops to help a fallen rival. What do both choices show?
A.Mountains are dangerous
B.Running is faster than climbing
C.Some things matter more than winning
5.Both stories are about courage. In Story A a knight fights a dragon. In Story B a shy boy reads his poem aloud. How does Story B handle the theme differently?
A.It says courage is not needed
B.It shows courage in a battle
C.It finds courage in an everyday moment
6.Both stories are about honesty. In Story A an honest girl wins a prize. In Story B an honest boy loses a game but keeps a friend. How do they differ?
A.Story A punishes honesty
B.Story B says honesty is foolish
C.Story B shows a quieter reward for honesty
7.Story A: a boy hides a broken vase and feels worse each day. Story B: a girl owns up to a broken window and feels relieved. What theme do both share?
A.Glass breaks easily
B.Telling the truth lifts a weight
C.Parents are always angry
8.Story A: a greedy king turns everything to gold and cannot eat. Story B: a boy wishes for endless candy and falls ill. What theme do both share?
A.Gold is very heavy
B.Kings should not eat candy
C.Getting everything you want can harm you
LessonPrint · RL.5.9 · Set 15 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Same Theme, Different Handling
Set 15. Prints on its own sheet.
1.How it feels to be the one who leaves
2.Their tone
3.One moment of doubt or curiosity changes everything
4.Some things matter more than winning
5.It finds courage in an everyday moment
6.Story B shows a quieter reward for honesty
7.Telling the truth lifts a weight
8.Getting everything you want can harm you
Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to RL.5.9 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.