Author's Purpose
Why does the author include information about tourists visiting the island?
A. To explain how the migration helps the island’s economy
B. To entertain readers with stories about visitors’ reactions
C. To show that the crabs have become dangerous to the locals
D. To persuade readers to volunteer in crab protection programs
A. To explain how the migration helps the island’s economy
Read the origin of the word navigate.
from Latin navis (ship) + agere (drive)
This information helps the reader understand that navigate in paragraph 3 means ---
A. overcome problems
B. accomplish a difficult goal
C. desire a leading role
D. find the way to a destination
D. find the way to a destination
Which detail best supports the idea that the red crab migration attracts attention beyond the island?
A. “The annual migration has become a part of life for the locals.”
B. “Roads are closed, and the routes of the crabs are reported on the radio.”
C. “Many tourists travel to Christmas Island to witness the red crab migration, boosting the local economy.”
D. “The baby crabs hatch in the ocean and live their first few weeks in the water.”
C. “Many tourists travel to Christmas Island to witness the red crab migration, boosting the local economy.”
Which idea is most important to understanding the passage?
A. The red crab migration is a natural process that connects the island’s environment, animals, and people.
B. The red crab migration is harmful to the environment and causes destruction.
C. The red crab migration occurs only once every few decades.
D. The red crab migration shows how quickly animals can adapt to humans.
A. The red crab migration is a natural process that connects the island’s environment, animals, and people.
Which text structure is used in paragraph 7 when the author writes about roads closing and tourists visiting the island?
A. Problem and solution
B. Chronological order
C. Cause and effect
D. Compare and contrast
C. Cause and effect
What is the author’s main purpose for describing how the male and female crabs travel separately and at different times?
A. To show that male crabs are stronger than female crabs
B. To provide scientific details about the red crabs’ breeding cycle
C. To persuade readers to protect the crabs from predators
D. To compare the migration of crabs with other animals
B. To provide scientific details about the red crabs’ breeding cycle
Read the sentence from paragraph 2.
“The crabs let nothing stand in their way, swarming in red waves over the streets and homes of the island.”
What does the word swarming most likely mean as it is used in this sentence?
A. Moving together in a large, busy group
B. Traveling quietly and slowly
C. Resting in scattered locations
D. Crawling carefully in a straight line
A. Moving together in a large, busy group
Which sentence from the passage best supports the idea that the red crab migration is dangerous for the crabs?
A. “The island boasts an array of exotic plants and animals.”
B. “During that journey they risk getting run over by cars, suffering dehydration, or being attacked by other animals.”
C. “The males and females mate near the water.”
D. “Many tourists travel to Christmas Island to witness the red crab migration.”
B. “During that journey they risk getting run over by cars, suffering dehydration, or being attacked by other animals.”
Which detail best supports the controlling idea that the red crab migration is a major event for both wildlife and people?
A. “Roads are closed, and the routes of the crabs are reported on the radio.”
B. “The females make their way to the edge of the ocean, where they release their eggs.”
C. “The crabs spend most of their lives on land.”
D. “Only 1,500 or so people lived on the island as of 2010.”
A. “Roads are closed, and the routes of the crabs are reported on the radio.”
Why does the author include the caption “Children play in a school gym during the red crab migration”?
A. To show that the migration is dangerous for children
B. To illustrate how everyday life continues even while crabs are everywhere
C. To explain that students help collect the crabs for research
D. To compare children’s behavior with the crabs’ movement
B. To illustrate how everyday life continues even while crabs are everywhere
The author included paragraph 1 in the selection most likely to --
F. provide background information about the home of the red crabs
G. explain why it is important for the red crabs to reach the ocean.
H. provide reasons for visiting Christmas Island during the red crab migration
J. explain why Christmas Island is a perfect place for red crabs to live
F. provide background information about the home of the red crabs
In paragraph 2, the word treacherous means --
F. quick
G. unexpected
H. dangerous
J. questionable
H. dangerous
Which detail from the selection supports the idea that the island benefits from the red crabs?
A. Millions of red crabs live in the rain forest that grows on the island.
B. The red crabs lay their eggs along the shore of the island.
C. The red crab migration attracts many visitors who spend money on the island.
D. The red crabs cover the roadways during their migration.
C. The red crab migration attracts many visitors who spend money on the island.
How does the author develop the controlling idea throughout the passage?
A. By describing how the crabs and people prepare for the migration, the author shows how it shapes daily life on the island.
B. By comparing the red crabs to other animals, the author shows why they are rare.
C. By telling a story about one crab’s migration, the author entertains readers with fiction.
D. By explaining how scientists study crabs, the author proves they are endangered.
A. By describing how the crabs and people prepare for the migration, the author shows how it shapes daily life on the island.
What is the main organizational pattern used in paragraphs 2–6?
A. Cause and effect — showing how the migration happens and what it leads to
B. Problem and solution — explaining how people fix issues caused by crabs
C. Compare and contrast — describing differences between male and female crabs
D. Description — listing facts about Christmas Island and its wildlife
A. Cause and effect — showing how the migration happens and what it leads to
In paragraph 7, what is the author’s purpose for including details about roads closing and routes being reported on the radio?
A. To show how dangerous the crabs can be to the residents
B. To emphasize the importance of safety on the island
C. To explain how the migration influences the daily routines of the people
D. To describe how scientists track the crabs’ movements
C. To explain how the migration influences the daily routines of the people
Read this sentence from paragraph 3.
“During that journey they risk getting run over by cars, suffering dehydration, or being attacked by other animals.”
What does the word dehydration mean in this sentence?
A. Becoming stronger through rest
B. Losing too much water or moisture
C. Hiding from the sun under trees
D. Growing larger after drinking water
B. Losing too much water or moisture
Which sentence best supports the idea that the red crab migration greatly affects the people who live on Christmas Island?
A. “The crabs make their way down the side of the plateau and cross the path of the people living there.”
B. “Only 1,500 or so people lived on the island as of 2010.”
C. “The migration begins during the rainy season in October and November.”
D. “Each female red crab can produce up to 100,000 eggs.”
A. “The crabs make their way down the side of the plateau and cross the path of the people living there.”
Which sentence from the passage best supports the controlling idea that the migration is an important part of life on Christmas Island?
A. “The island boasts an array of exotic plants and animals.”
B. “The annual migration has become a part of life for the locals.”
C. “Each female red crab can produce up to 100,000 eggs.”
D. “The baby crabs hatch in the ocean and live their first few weeks in the water.”
B. “The annual migration has become a part of life for the locals.”
How does the author organize the passage “Red Crab Invasion”?
A. By comparing the red crab migration to other animal migrations
B. By explaining the sequence of events that occur during the migration
C. By listing problems the red crabs cause and how people solve them
D. By describing what life is like before and after the migration
B. By explaining the sequence of events that occur during the migration
Which statement best describes the author’s purpose for writing “Red Crab Invasion”?
A. To explain how the red crabs’ migration affects life on Christmas Island
B. To persuade readers to travel to Christmas Island for the crab migration
C. To entertain readers with a fictional story about a crab adventure
D. To describe how red crabs are trained by scientists to survive predators
A. To explain how the red crabs’ migration affects life on Christmas Island
Read this sentence from paragraph 6.
“They shed the outer layer of their shells as part of a process called molting, which they do many times over the course of their lives.”
What is the meaning of the word molting as it is used in the sentence?
A. Traveling long distances to the ocean
B. Growing a new shell after losing the old one
C. Digging tunnels to hide from predators
D. Changing color to blend with the environment
B. Growing a new shell after losing the old one
Which sentence from the selection supports the idea that Christmas Island is a special place?
A. The red land crab makes up the largest population of the land crab species.
B. The island boasts an array of exotic plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in the world.
C. Only 1,500 or so people lived on the island as of 2010.
D. Christmas Island is an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean.
B. The island boasts an array of exotic plants and animals, some of which are found nowhere else in the world.
What is the controlling idea of “Red Crab Invasion”?
A. The red crab migration is a natural event that challenges both the crabs and the people living on Christmas Island.
B. The red crab is an endangered species that depends on human protection to survive.
C. The people of Christmas Island are learning to farm crabs for food and tourism.
D. The red crab migration is dangerous and must be stopped to protect island residents.
A. The red crab migration is a natural event that challenges both the crabs and the people living on Christmas Island.
What is the main purpose of the photographs included with the passage?
A. To show the dangers of living on Christmas Island
B. To provide visual evidence of how large and widespread the migration is
C. To show how scientists study the red crabs in laboratories
D. To persuade readers to visit Christmas Island
B. To provide visual evidence of how large and widespread the migration is