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Varieties of English is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on recognizing dialect and register differences, aligned to Common Core standard L.5.3. 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.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Varieties of English

L.5.3

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1.In a play, one character says "Good day to you, sir" and another says "Hiya!" What does the difference show?
  • A.One of them has made a mistake
  • B.The two characters speak in different registers
  • C.They are speaking different languages
2.Which shows a difference between spoken and written English?
  • A.Speech uses more commas
  • B.Writing is always formal
  • C.Speech can trail off; writing usually finishes the thought
3.What is a dialect?
  • A.A form of a language spoken in one place or by one group
  • B.A mistake in spelling
  • C.A kind of poem
4.In a story, a farmer says, "We're fixing to plant the corn." What does the way he speaks show?
  • A.That the farmer is not telling the truth
  • B.How people talk in his part of the country
  • C.A spelling mistake by the author
5.Which sentence is in a formal register?
  • A.Get back to me!
  • B.I would be grateful if you could reply soon.
  • C.Write back soon, OK?
6.Why might an author write a character's speech in dialect?
  • A.Because dialect is the only correct way to write
  • B.To show where the character comes from and make them sound real
  • C.To make the story harder to read
7.In a poem, the speaker says "I ain't got no fear of the dark." Why might the poet write it this way?
  • A.To show the poem is a list
  • B.Because the poet does not know grammar
  • C.To give the speaker a real, local voice
8.When you write a school report, which variety of English should you use?
  • A.The dialect you use with friends
  • B.Standard English in a formal register
  • C.Text-message shorthand

LessonPrint · L.5.3 · Set 15 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Varieties of English

Set 15. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.The two characters speak in different registers
  2. 2.Speech can trail off; writing usually finishes the thought
  3. 3.A form of a language spoken in one place or by one group
  4. 4.How people talk in his part of the country
  5. 5.I would be grateful if you could reply soon.
  6. 6.To show where the character comes from and make them sound real
  7. 7.To give the speaker a real, local voice
  8. 8.Standard English in a formal register

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.5.3 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.