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The Reason That Does Not Reach is a free printable Grade 3 to Grade 5 social studies worksheet on critiquing an argument, aligned to Common Core standard D4.4.3-5. 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 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 2 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.

The Reason That Does Not Reach

D4.4.3-5

NameDate

Circle the best answer.

1.'The programme failed because the government was incompetent.' What is wrong?
  • A.It names a cause with no evidence and ignores the shortages on record
  • B.Governments are never incompetent
  • C.It is too short
2.An argument uses only the government's own sources. What is wrong?
  • A.It is too long
  • B.It tests the government's account against nothing but itself
  • C.Official sources are useless
3.'The 2011 history is right because it uses the official figures.' What is wrong?
  • A.2011 is too recent
  • B.Official figures are false
  • C.Both sides can use the same figures; the question is what they show
4.'The public wanted housing first, so the policy was right.' What is wrong?
  • A.Polls are always wrong
  • B.What people want does not establish that a method will work
  • C.41 per cent is too few
5.An argument says what evidence would refute it. Is that weak?
  • A.No: it makes the argument testable, which is its strength
  • B.Yes, it invites attack
  • C.Yes, it is longer
6.'Private firms would have built faster.' What is missing?
  • A.Firms cannot build
  • B.Evidence from places where private firms did build
  • C.The claim is too bold
7.'The minister admitted it, so the government was honest throughout.' What is wrong?
  • A.Admissions prove nothing
  • B.He was not a minister
  • C.One admission does not establish a pattern
8.What makes an argument about this programme strong?
  • A.Confidence
  • B.A clear claim, evidence from both sides, and an answer to the best objection
  • C.Length

LessonPrint · D4.4.3-5 · Set 2 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — The Reason That Does Not Reach

Set 2. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It names a cause with no evidence and ignores the shortages on record
  2. 2.It tests the government's account against nothing but itself
  3. 3.Both sides can use the same figures; the question is what they show
  4. 4.What people want does not establish that a method will work
  5. 5.No: it makes the argument testable, which is its strength
  6. 6.Evidence from places where private firms did build
  7. 7.One admission does not establish a pattern
  8. 8.A clear claim, evidence from both sides, and an answer to the best objection

More practice for D4.4.3-5

Judge how good an argument is.

Teaching this next? The Reason That Does Not Reach is the 55-minute plan for it, with the misconceptions to expect.

All Grade 3 to Grade 5 worksheets

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to D4.4.3-5 of the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.