Surviving Harsh Places
Why do some desert animals become active only after the sun goes down?
A. They prefer the color of the night sky.
B. The daytime heat can dry out their bodies or make them overheat.
C. They need bright sunlight to find food.
D. They are afraid of other animals.
B. The daytime heat can dry out their bodies or make them overheat.
Why might an animal that is active at night have a very long, thin fingers?
A. The fingers helps it dig deep tunnels.
B. The fingers makes the animal look scary.
C. It uses the fingers to get in to tight spaces and pull out hidden insects.
D. The fingers helps it taste food.
C. It uses the fingers to get in to tight spaces and pull out hidden insects.
Why might an animal that lives in open grasslands have fur that changes color with the seasons?
A. The changing fur helps it stay warm only in summer.
B. The changing fur helps it blend in and hide from predators.
C. The changing fur helps it run faster.
D. The changing fur helps it find water more easily.
B. The changing fur helps it blend in and hide from predators.
An animal has loose skin that stretches between its arms and legs. When it jumps, the skin spreads out and lets it sail through the air. What does this most likely help the animal do?
A. Dig deeper holes.
B. Travel from tree to tree without touching the ground.
C. Run faster on open ground.
D. Taste different kinds of food.
B. Travel from tree to tree without touching the ground.
In a sentence about a night hunter, the animal “plunges” toward its food. What does “plunges” most likely mean?
A. Walks slowly and carefully.
B. Stays still in one place.
C. Dives or moves quickly downward.
D. Looks around for a long time.
C. Dives or moves quickly downward.
What can you infer about an animal that digs a deep burrow and stays inside during the hottest hours?
A. It only eats plants that grow at night.
B. It depends on humans for protection.
C. It needs cooler temperatures and moisture to stay healthy.
D. It cannot move during the day.
C. It needs cooler temperatures and moisture to stay healthy.
Some animals have wide, flat feet that act like snowshoes. What does this help them do?
A. Dig deep tunnels underground.
B. Walk on top of soft snow without sinking.
C. Climb tall trees more easily.
D. Swim faster in deep water.
B. Walk on top of soft snow without sinking.
A small animal hops quickly across open sand at night on long back legs. What does the word “bounding” most likely tell you about the animal?
A. It is moving slowly to enjoy the night air.
B. It is looking for a sunny spot.
C. It is trying to make friends with other animals.
D. It is moving fast in long leaps so it is harder for enemies to catch it.
D. It is moving fast in long leaps so it is harder for enemies to catch it.
Some animals can roll into a tight ball so that only their sharp spines stick out. What does this show?
A. They cannot smell anything.
B. They only eat during the day.
C. The spines are an important protection against predators.
D. They do not need to move around.
C. The spines are an important protection against predators.
A writer says an animal’s call is “sharper than a whistle and louder than a shout.” What does this description tell you?
A. The sound is soft and quiet.
B. The animal is angry.
C. The animal is whispering.
D. The sound is very high-pitched and strong.
D. The sound is very high-pitched and strong.
A small desert animal gets all the water it needs from the seeds it eats and never drinks. What does this tell you about how it survives?
A. It only comes out when it rains.
B. It stores water in its long ears.
C. It must live near rivers.
D. Its body is adapted to live in places with almost no water.
D. Its body is adapted to live in places with almost no water.
An animal uses its long, sticky tongue to reach insects deep inside a nest. What does this tell you?
A. It only eats leaves from trees.
B. It hunts only during the day.
C. It cannot move quickly.
D. It does not need to see the insects to catch them.
D. It does not need to see the insects to catch them.
A hunter that is active at night has a problem: if its prey sees or hears it, the prey might escape. How does moving very slowly and quietly help solve this problem?
A. The slow, silent movement makes it easier for the hunter to stay hidden.
B. The slow movement makes the hunter slower than its prey.
C. The slow movement makes the prey bigger.
D. The slow movement makes food taste better.
A. The slow, silent movement makes it easier for the hunter to stay hidden.
A flying animal uses it's large ears and nose to send out high sounds and listen for the echoes that bounce back. What does this help the animal do?
A. Scare other animals away with loud noise.
B. Entertain the other animals at night.
C. Find sunny places to rest.
D. Build a sound picture of what is around it even in total darkness.
D. Build a sound picture of what is around it even in total darkness.
An author describes two different animals’ special body parts in nearby sentences. How is the information most likely organized?
A. By listing different facts that are not connected.
B. By comparing how the two animals use their body parts to survive at night.
C. By telling a fictional story about each animal.
D. By giving only one animal’s history.
Correct Answer: B
B. By comparing how the two animals use their body parts to survive at night.
Some animals have thick, scaly armor covering their bodies. What can you infer about these scales?
A. They help the animal run faster.
B. They help protect the animal from predators.
C. They are only for decoration.
D. They help the animal climb trees.
B. They help protect the animal from predators.
A night hunter can locate prey by sensing the tiny electrical signals their muscles make. What does this show?
A. The hunter only eats plants.
B. The hunter is slower than its prey.
C. Special sensors help it find food when it is too dark or muddy to see well.
D. The hunter needs bright lights to hunt.
C. Special sensors help it find food when it is too dark or muddy to see well.
Which detail would best support the idea that an animal is well adapted for finding food in the dark?
A. It only comes out when the sun is shining.
B. It can sense the body heat of its prey from a short distance away.
C. It sleeps all night and hunts all day.
D. It needs bright lights to see its food.
B. It can sense the body heat of its prey from a short distance away.
Which detail best supports the central idea that animals adapt in special ways to live and find food at night?
A. Most animals find food in the woods.
B. Animals like to hunt in packs.
C. Some animals have excellent hearing and can hear small animals, without having to see them.
D. Some animals rest in the shade when it is hot.
C. Some animals have excellent hearing and can hear small animals, without having to see them.
Which sentence shows a cause-and-effect structure?
A. An animal has soft fur and is furry.
B. An animal lives in a tree and it's so high up!
C. An animal has four legs and is cute.
D. An animal can become sick or die if the hot sun dries out its skin.
D. An animal can become sick or die if the hot sun dries out its skin.
What can you infer about how many animals survive in difficult environments?
A. They all need bright light to find food.
B. They depend on humans to guide them.
C. They can live only in thick forests.
D. They use different body parts or behaviors that help them in those places.
D. They use different body parts or behaviors that help them in those places.
What can you infer is another reason many animals have unusual body parts like long fingers or heat sensors?
A. They want to scare away other animals.
B. It is often too dark or difficult to depend only on regular eyesight.
C. They don’t need to find food.
D. They are smarter than other animals.
B. It is often too dark or difficult to depend only on regular eyesight.
What problem and solution best describe how some animals survive attacks?
A. Problem: They are hungry. Solution: They eat only plants.
B. Problem: They sleep too much. Solution: They stay awake all day.
C. Problem: Prey is too fast. Solution: They ask other animals for help.
D. Problem: Predators might try to bite them. Solution: They have hard scales or toxic defenses.
D. Problem: Predators might try to bite them. Solution: They have hard scales or toxic defenses.
Which question would best show the overall idea that connects texts about different night animals?
A. How do animals use only their eyes to hunt during the day?
B. How do long claws help animals climb trees?
C. What helps animals stay cool only during the hottest part of the day?
D. How do animals use special body parts or senses to survive when it is dark or dangerous?
D. How do animals use special body parts or senses to survive when it is dark or dangerous?
How can photographs of animals help readers understand a text about adaptations?
A. They can show how cute they look sleeping.
B. They can show special body parts that help the animals survive. (like long fingers, scales, or protective shells)
C. They replace the need for any words.
D. They can show "a day in the life" of the animal.
B. They can show special body parts that help the animals survive. (like long fingers, scales, or protective shells)