READING
Read the passages and then answer the questions
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What Lives Inside a Box?
Turtles are reptiles, like snakes and crocodiles. Like other reptiles,
turtles have skin that is rough. They lay eggs, and their babies hatch
from those eggs. Turtles are also cold-blooded. Do you know what that
means? People are warm-blooded. That means your body is warm.
Your body temperature is about 98 degrees whether you are in the sun or
in the snow. Reptiles aren’t always warm. If they are in the snow, their
bodies are cold. If they are in the sun, their bodies are hot. For this
reason, turtles who live near water lay in the sun when the water is too
cold. They swim in the water if the sun is too hot.
Turtles are different from most other reptiles in one important way.
Of all the reptiles, only the turtle and the tortoise live “inside a box” This
box is actually the turtle’s shell. It cannot leave its shell because the
shell is part of the turtles’ other bones. The shell protects the turtle. A
small rock can fall on a turtle’s shell and not harm the turtle at all. The
shell protects the turtle in another way too. If another animal tries to
harm it, the turtle hides inside its shell. Its head, tail, and legs disappear.
It becomes impossible for the other animals to get to the turtle. If you
go near a turtle and surprise it the turtle will probably go inside its shell.
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Can a turtle bite you? Yes, in a way. A turtle has no teeth, but it
does have a hard beak. Turtles with sharp, pointed beaks eat meat.
Turtles with flat beaks eat plants or fish. Either kind of beak will hurt
you if the turtle grabs your finger!
Turtles live in all kinds of places. They can live in deserts, forests,
and mountains. They can also live in rivers, ponds, and the sea. Turtles
eat the food found wherever they live. In the desert, turtles eat the
grasses and weeds that grow there. A pond turtle’s diet is made up of
the mosquitoes and small fish that live in and near the water. Mountain
turtles eat worms, flowers, and mushrooms.
Sadly, many turtle populations are in serious danger. People have
moved into many of the places where turtles live. When people move
in, they change the places where turtles live. People usually build
houses and roads that destroy the grasses, insects, and other foods that
turtles eat. For this reason, there are fewer turtles every year. If more
care is not taken, so there may be no place for turtles to live.
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Student’s Name: ______________________________________________ _____________
Teacher: ____________________________Date:_________________________________
Multiple-choice questions:
CIRCLE YOUR ANSWER
1. The author uses the picture of the turtle to show
a.
b.
c.
d.
where turtles like to live
how turtles lay their eggs
that all turtles need shells
different parts of a turtle’s body
2. What would happen to a turtle if it did not have a shell?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The turtle would be warm-blooded.
The turtle would have smooth skin.
The turtle would be in more danger.
The turtle would live near the water.
3. Read the following from the passage
A pond turtle’s diet is made up of the mosquitoes and small fish that live in and near the water.
Mountain turtles eat worms, flowers, and mushrooms.
In these sentences, the word diet means
a. food
b. grass
c. place
d. water
4. Read the following from the passage
Sadly, many turtle populations are in serious danger. People have moved into many of the
places where turtles live.
What does the word populations mean in the sentence?
a.
b.
c.
d.
dangers
groups
people
places
5. How are turtles different than most reptiles?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Most other reptiles do not swim.
Most other reptiles do not eat fish.
Most other reptiles do not have shells.
Most other reptiles do not live in the water.
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6. The passage says that there are fewer turtles every year because
a. turtles cannot find any place to live
b. other animals try to harm the turtles
c. people destroy places where turtles live
d. turtles have no teeth for biting and eating.
7. Mountain Turtles eat all of the following except
a. worms
b. flowers
c. insects
d. mushrooms
OPEN ENDED SCORE: ________
Turn over for open ended
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READING OPEN-ENDED ITEM FOR
“What Lives Inside a Box”
The turtle went into it’s shell is the effect, identify 3 reasons (cause) from the passage. Use specific
examples to support your answer.
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Answers
1. D
2. C
3. A
4. D
5. C
6. C
7. C
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