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Reading Past the Words is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on inferring audience and purpose from a source, aligned to Common Core standard D2.His.11.3-5. It prints 2 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two pupils in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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All 25 sets ask different questions.

Reading Past the Words

D2.His.11.3-5

NameDate

Look at the source, then answer the questions.

1.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

County Trade Directory

A page from a printed trade directory of the county, 1850. TRADES OF THE VALLEY, 1850 Boat builders ................ 2 Blacksmiths .................. 7 Railway porters .............. 11 Wharf labourers .............. 4 Milliners .................... 3 Schoolmasters ................ 2

  1. 1. What does the directory not tell you?
  2. 2. What had happened to canal work by 1850?
2.Look at the source, then answer the questions.

Railway Timetable, First Year

A timetable printed by the railway company in 1846, its first year of service. TRAINS TO THE COUNTY TOWN Leave 7 in the morning, arrive 8. Leave 1 in the afternoon, arrive 2. Leave 6 in the evening, arrive 7. Third class carriages are open to the weather. Fare: 6 pence third class, 2 shillings first class.

  1. 1. What does the timetable not tell you?
  2. 2. Who was third class meant for?

LessonPrint · D2.His.11.3-5 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Reading Past the Words

Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.1. It does not tell you what any of these workers were paid. 2. It had shrunk: only 4 wharf labourers remain against 11 railway porters.
  2. 2.1. It does not tell you how many people actually travelled. 2. People who could not pay 2 shillings, since third class carriages were open to the weather.

Questions about Reading Past the Words

What does the Reading Past the Words worksheet cover?

It practises inferring audience and purpose from a source — 2 questions for Grade 3 to Grade 5, all on Common Core D2.His.11.3-5: Work out who a source was made for and why, from the source itself. The instruction to pupils is “Look at the source, then answer the questions”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.

Which Common Core standard does Reading Past the Words practise?

D2.His.11.3-5 — D2.His.11.3-5, in the History domain for Grade 3 to Grade 5. The published standard reads: “Infer the intended audience and purpose of a historical source from information within the source itself.” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.

What age or grade is this worksheet for?

Reading Past the Words is written for Grade 3 to Grade 5, typically ages 40-41. It is one of the sheets on D2.His.11.3-5, so it suits any pupil working at that standard — including older pupils revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.

Does Reading Past the Words come with an answer key?

Yes. All 2 answers are generated from the same problems as the questions, so the key cannot drift out of step with the sheet. It starts on a fresh sheet of paper, after the questions, so it is not handed out with the class by accident.

How many different versions of Reading Past the Words can I print?

25 — one per pupil, and all 25 ask different questions. Set 1 downloads the whole class as a single PDF. Every version is fixed to its own address, so a sheet printed today holds the same problems when you reopen it next week.

Is Reading Past the Words free to print and photocopy?

Yes. Reading Past the Words, its answer key and its 25 versions are free to print and photocopy for your own class, with no account, no email capture and no subscription at the download step. Please do not resell them or republish them as your own.

Is there a lesson plan to teach D2.His.11.3-5?

Yes — “Who Was This Made For?” is a 45-minute Grade 3 to Grade 5 plan for D2.His.11.3-5, timed section by section, with the misconceptions to expect and an exit ticket. Reading Past the Words is the practice that follows it.

More practice for D2.His.11.3-5

Work out who a source was made for and why, from the source itself.

Teaching this next? Who Was This Made For? is the 45-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 to Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D2.His.11.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.