Spot the Exaggeration is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on finding the statement that overstates the evidence, 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.The school library has about two thousand books. Which statement exaggerates this?
A.The library has about two thousand books.
B.The library has every book ever written.
C.The library has a lot of books.
2.The town's river flooded twice in ten years. Which claim exaggerates this?
A.The river floods all the time.
B.The river flooded twice in ten years.
C.The river has flooded more than once.
3.A survey found that 18 of 30 children walk to school. Which statement exaggerates this?
A.More than half the children walk to school.
B.Eighteen children walk to school.
C.Almost every child walks to school.
4.A letter says, "Nobody in this town ever recycles." Town records show half of homes recycle. What is wrong with the letter?
A.Nothing, because it matches the records
B.It proves that the town records must be wrong
C.It exaggerates, because the records show half of homes do recycle
5.A store sold 25 umbrellas on one rainy Monday. Which statement exaggerates this?
A.The store sold 25 umbrellas on Monday.
B.The store sold umbrellas on a rainy day.
C.Everyone in the country bought an umbrella on Monday.
6.Two children said the school lunch was cold. Which headline exaggerates this?
A.Two Children Say Lunch Was Cold
B.Whole School Furious About Lunch
C.Some Complaints About a Cold Lunch
7.Why do advertisements often exaggerate?
A.To make the product seem better than the evidence shows
B.Because an exaggeration is always true
C.To give the reader exact facts
8.In a test, 3 of 20 plants grew taller with music playing. Which claim overstates the result?
A.Three of the plants grew taller with music.
B.Music makes all plants grow taller.
C.Most of the plants did not grow taller with music.
LessonPrint · RI.5.8 · Set 1 · free to copy for classroom use
Answer key — Spot the Exaggeration
Set 1. Prints on its own sheet.
1.The library has every book ever written.
2.The river floods all the time.
3.Almost every child walks to school.
4.It exaggerates, because the records show half of homes do recycle
5.Everyone in the country bought an umbrella on Monday.
6.Whole School Furious About Lunch
7.To make the product seem better than the evidence shows
8.Music makes all plants grow taller.
Questions about Spot the Exaggeration
What does the Spot the Exaggeration worksheet cover?
It practices finding the statement that overstates the evidence — 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 Exaggeration 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 Exaggeration 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 Exaggeration 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 Exaggeration 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 Exaggeration free to print and photocopy?
Yes. Spot the Exaggeration, 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.