Spot the Contradiction is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on finding the two statements that cannot both be true, aligned to Common Core standard RI.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 1 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.
1.(1) The river is too shallow for boats. (2) Fishing is popular on the river. (3) Large boats sail up the river every day. Which two sentences cannot both be true?
A.Sentences 1 and 3
B.Sentences 1 and 2
C.Sentences 2 and 3
2.(1) The cake recipe uses no eggs. (2) Crack three eggs into the bowl. (3) Bake the cake for thirty minutes. Which two sentences cannot both be true?
A.Sentences 2 and 3
B.Sentences 1 and 2
C.Sentences 1 and 3
3.(1) The village has no school. (2) The village store sells bread. (3) Children walk to the village school each morning. Which two sentences cannot both be true?
A.Sentences 1 and 3
B.Sentences 2 and 3
C.Sentences 1 and 2
4.(1) The pond is home to many frogs. (2) Not a single frog lives in the pond. (3) Ducks visit the pond in spring. Which two sentences cannot both be true?
A.Sentences 1 and 2
B.Sentences 1 and 3
C.Sentences 2 and 3
5.(1) The plant needs full sun to grow. (2) The plant grows best in deep shade. (3) The plant has purple flowers. Which two sentences cannot both be true?
A.Sentences 2 and 3
B.Sentences 1 and 2
C.Sentences 1 and 3
6.(1) Many birds nest in the forest. (2) The author says the forest is shrinking. (3) The author says the forest is bigger than ever. Which two sentences cannot both be true?
A.Sentences 1 and 2
B.Sentences 1 and 3
C.Sentences 2 and 3
7.(1) The road is closed to all traffic. (2) Buses use the road every hour. (3) The road runs past the park. Which two sentences cannot both be true?
A.Sentences 2 and 3
B.Sentences 1 and 3
C.Sentences 1 and 2
8.(1) Max is allergic to dust. (2) Max has never owned a pet. (3) Max feeds his own cat every morning. Which two sentences cannot both be true?
A.Sentences 1 and 2
B.Sentences 1 and 3
C.Sentences 2 and 3
LessonPrint · RI.5.8 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Spot the Contradiction
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.Sentences 1 and 3
2.Sentences 1 and 2
3.Sentences 1 and 3
4.Sentences 1 and 2
5.Sentences 1 and 2
6.Sentences 2 and 3
7.Sentences 1 and 2
8.Sentences 2 and 3
Questions about Spot the Contradiction
What does the Spot the Contradiction worksheet cover?
It practices finding the two statements that cannot both be true — 8 questions for Grade 5, all on Common Core RI.5.8: Match each reason and piece of evidence to the point it supports. The instruction to students is “Circle the right answer”, and the answer key follows on the next sheet.
Which Common Core standard does Spot the Contradiction practice?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.8 — RI.5.8, under Reading: Informational Text for Grade 5. The published standard reads: “Explain how an author uses reasons and evidence to support particular points in a text, identifying which reasons and evidence support which point(s).” The worksheet assesses that standard rather than a paraphrase of it.
What age or grade is this worksheet for?
Spot the Contradiction is written for Grade 5, typically ages 10-11. It is one of the sheets on RI.5.8, so it suits any student working at that standard — including older students revisiting it and younger ones working ahead.
Does Spot the Contradiction come with an answer key?
Yes. All 8 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 Spot the Contradiction can I print?
25 — one per student, 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 Spot the Contradiction free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Spot the Contradiction, 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.
More practice for RI.5.8
Match each reason and piece of evidence to the point it supports.