Austin's Secret Salamander
Which sentence from the selection shows that Austin Blind Salamanders are not very common?
A. Before you even had a chance to see, it’s gone, back into the water. (paragraph 2)
B. The Austin Blind Salamander lives in the capital of Texas, and it has only been spotted in one place—below the Barton Springs in Austin. (paragraph 6)
C. Just as its name says, the Austin Blind Salamander is unable to see. (paragraph 7)
D. The Austin Blind Salamander is a keystone species. (paragraph 10)
B. The Austin Blind Salamander lives in the capital of Texas, and it has only been spotted in one place—below the Barton Springs in Austin. (paragraph 6)
What can the reader infer about Austin Blind Salamanders based on the details in paragraph 12?
A The body of an Austin Blind Salamander is sensitive to the temperature of water.
B It is easier for an Austin Blind Salamander to swim in water that is moving rapidly.
C If too many Austin Blind Salamanders are in the water, it will get too warm.
D Austin Blind Salamanders make the water unsafe to drink.
A The body of an Austin Blind Salamander is sensitive to the temperature of water.
What change needs to be made in sentence 4?
A Change learned to learnt
B Delete the comma
C Change so to or
D Change makes to make
D Change makes to make
People rarely see the Austin Blind Salamander, most likely because –
A the salamanders can blend in to the water
B the salamanders are too small to see
C the salamanders like to hide
D the salamanders usually remain underwater
D the salamanders usually remain underwater
What change should be made in sentence 8?
A Change press to presses
B Change his to him
C Insert a comma after face
D Change huge to huger
A Change press to presses
What is the best summary of the section titled “Texas’s Special Salamander”?
A Aquifers keep water deep underground. The Austin Blind Salamander swims in an aquifer.
B The Austin Blind Salamander only lives in the Edwards Aquifer in Texas. It has special features that help it live there.
C The Austin Blind Salamander has red gills. It is a small creature that can be different colors.
D There is an important aquifer beneath the spring in Barton Springs, Texas. Different types of salamanders live there.
B The Austin Blind Salamander only lives in the Edwards Aquifer in Texas. It has special features that help it live there.
What change, if any, needs to be made in sentence 10?
A Change Rainy to Rainey
B Change is to are
C Change best to bestest
D No change is needed
A Change Rainy to Rainey
Which key idea do the details in paragraph 8 support about the Austin Blind Salamander?
A Not all Austin Blind Salamanders look the same.
B Austin Blind Salamanders are just like any other salamander.
C Austin Blind Salamanders are sometimes mistaken for a pearl.
D Most Austin Blind Salamanders are the exact same size.
A Not all Austin Blind Salamanders look the same.
Which word from paragraph 10 helps the reader understand the meaning of the word provides?
A species
B depends
C water
D source
D source
Why are Austin Blind Salamanders an important part of their environment? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Austin Blind Salamanders are an important part of their environment because they help keep the water healthy. On paragraph 10, it says, “The Austin Blind Salamander is a keystone species. That means that the environment depends on the animal to stay balanced and healthy. ” This shows how the Austin Blind Salamanders are an important part of their environment because they help humans take care on water.