Dolphins and Porpoises
Do you know the difference between a porpoise and a dolphin? Both can be
found in oceans all over the world, and both are in the same family of animals, which
includes 40 other species. These ocean animals look similar, but they are very different
types of creatures.
Porpoises are smaller than dolphins and are rounder in shape. They have
rounded heads and short noses. Porpoises do not grow longer than 6 feet in length and
weigh less than 300 pounds. The teeth of porpoises are blunt and do not have sharp
points like the teeth of dolphins. Porpoises
travel in small groups of 2 to 4.
Dolphins are much larger and have a
more elongated shape than porpoises.
Dolphins grow between 6 feet and 26 feet in
length and weigh between 70 and 1500
pounds. They have sharp teeth and long noses.
Dolphins travel in sizeable groups, called pods,
with 2 to more than 100 members.
Most commonly seen off the coast of North Carolina is the bottlenose dolphin.
This smaller dolphin generally swims close to the shore in groups of 2 to 12. The
bottlenose dolphin is light colored on the belly and dark colored on the back. This
special coloring is called an adaptation, and this helps keep the dolphin safe from
other animals.
Dolphins and porpoises are sometimes hunted or accidentally caught by
fishermen. Because the numbers of dolphins and porpoises have declined, these
animals are protected and have been placed on a list of protected species. This means
that people are asked to pay special attention to keeping dolphins and porpoises safe
from harm.
Insider’s Guide to the Central Coast, 2003.
1. What is the purpose of the diagram in the text?
a. To compare dolphins and porpoises.
b. To show you what dolphins and porpoises look like.
c. To prove that dolphins are bigger than porpoises.
d. To compare a dolphins’ teeth to a porpoises teeth.
2. What are the similarities between a dolphin and a porpoise? Select all that apply.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
They are both the same size
They live in the oceans all of the world.
They have elongated shapes
They are in the same family
They can both weigh up to 1,500 pounds.
3. What relationship can be identified in the following sentence?
“Because the number of dolphins and porpoises have declined, these animals are protected
and have been placed on a list of protected species”
a.
b.
c.
d.
Cause and effect
Compare and contrast
Main idea and details
Sequence of events
4. Part A: What is the main idea of paragraph 2?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Porpoises have blunt teeth.
Porpoises do not grow longer than 6 feet in length.
Porpoises travel in small groups of 2 to 4.
Porpoises have different physical qualities than dolphins.
Part B: Which two details support your answer?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Porpoises are smaller than dolphins and are rounder in shape.
They have rounded heads and short noses.
Porpoises travel in small groups of 2 to 4.
Porpoises do not grow longer than 6 feet in length.
5. What is the purpose of the bottlenose dolphin having adaptations?
a.
b.
c.
d.
It keeps them closer to shore.
It allows them to travel in pods.
It keeps them safe from other animals.
It allows them to stay near North Carolina.
North Carolina Café Children’s Menu
We love kids at the North Carolina Café. In fact, almost everyone who
works in this restaurant has kids of their own, and we had our own kids help us
create this menu. We want kids to come to our restaurant and enjoy themselves.
In fact, if you are under the age of twelve and have any suggestions about how
we could make this menu better, please let your waiter know. We are interested
in what you have to say. Thanks for coming to the North Carolina Café!
Beverages
Homemade Smoothies: Strawberry-Banana, or Cherry-Berry Blast $2.75
Milkshakes: Chocolate or Vanilla
$2.75
Fountain Drinks: Sodas, lemonade and tea (free refills)
$1.25
Entrees
Fried Shrimp, Fries and Apple Sauce
$4.75
Spaghetti and Meatballs with Garlic Bread
$3.75
Chicken Tenders with Dipping Sauce
$3.50
Baby Back Ribs with Apple Sauce
$4.25
Grilled Cheese Sandwich and Fries
$3.00
Hamburger or Cheeseburger and Fries
$4.00
Desserts
Chocolate or Vanilla Ice-Cream Sundae
$2.50
Apple Pie with Vanilla Ice-Cream
$3.25
6. What is so special about the North Carolina Café Children’s Menu?
a.
b.
c.
d.
It has delicious items to choose from.
It is served to people under the age of 12.
The café workers’ kids created the menu.
If you eat the food, they will want to know how you felt about it.
7. Which of the following words could replace the word “beverages” in the text?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Food
Milkshake
Smoothie
Drink
8. Part A: What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
a.
b.
c.
d.
The restaurant owners want children to eat at their restaurant every week.
All the people who work at the restaurant have children.
The restaurant owners want kids to help them make a great kid’s menu.
The restaurant owners want children to eat healthy meals.
Part B: Which of the following details BEST supports your answer?
a. “In fact, if you are under the age of twelve and have any suggestions about how we
could make this menu better, please let your waiter know.”
b. “We love kids at the North Carolina Café.”
c. “We want kids to come to the restaurant and enjoy themselves.”
d. “In fact, almost everyone who works in this restaurant has kids of their own”.
9. What does the word entrée mean as it is used in the selection?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Your dessert
Your appetizer
Your dinner
Your drink.
10. Why do you think that the author included the actual children’s menu in the text? Cite
evidence from the text to support your answer.
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Standing at the Foul Line
There are only 55 seconds left on the scoreboard
And the game is tied.
I concentrate and try to clear my mind,
But I am worried I might miss.
I dribble the ball
Taking time to breathe and relax
I arch my hands and lift the ball
Sinking the first shot swish right through the net.
I have one more shot to go,
Can I make it a two-point game?
I lean forward and repeat the same steps
And then, I make it once again.
Who will win the game now?
By Kim Yaccarino
11. “Swish” as used in the poem, is an example of what kind of literary device?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Metaphor
Simile
Onomatopoeia
Alliteration
12. What is the narrator in the poem afraid of? Cite evidence from the selection to support
your answer.
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13. The word “concentrate”, as it is used in the poem, means
a.
b.
c.
d.
Think about what happened during the day.
Watch what the other players are doing.
Listen to what the players are saying.
Focus on what you are doing.
14. Which of the following words would describe how the narrator is feeling in the text?
Select all that apply.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
excited
nervous
sad
worried
angry
15. Which of the following words have the same prefix as “repeat”? Choose all that apply.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
rewind
peating
remind
redo
reap
16. What game do you think that the narrator is playing? Use evidence from the text to
support your answer.
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Shark Facts
There are almost 400 different kinds of sharks. Each kind of shark looks
different, has a unique diet, and behaves differently. There are sharks in all four
oceans of the world. Some sharks are longer than a school bus, while others are
so small they can live in fish tanks. Sharks come in all kinds of colors. Most of the
time, their skin color helps them blend in with their surroundings. But, some sharks
that live in the deepest part of the ocean actually have parts that glow in the
dark. Most sharks live in salt water, but some can live in fresh water. All sharks are
unique, or have different qualities that make them so special.
Sharks are actually a type of fish. There are some similarities as well as
differences between sharks and typical fish. Shark skeletons are made of
cartilage. Fish skeletons are made of bones. Cartilage is the bendy, tough
substance in people’s ears and noses. Like other fish, sharks have gills. Gills are
how fish breathe. Unlike fish, people use lungs to get oxygen from the air. Fish
get oxygen from the water using gills. Water needs to move over the gills so that
sharks and fish get enough oxygen. To keep the water moving, most sharks need
to swim in water that has a very strong current.
Sharks have lots of teeth that are arranged in many rows, rather than in
just one row like people. The teeth from the outside row gradually fall out, and
teeth from the next row take their place. Some sharks will lose 30,000 teeth in a
lifetime! Each species of shark has different kinds of teeth. This is because
different sharks eat different kinds of food. Some sharks eat food as small as
plankton while other sharks eat animals as big as sea turtles. Most sharks do not
eat very often. Some sharks will go weeks between meals. Sharks are at the top
of the ocean food chain, which means that no animal is hunting them for food.
This position is very important because sharks keep the other animal populations
from growing out of control. This process helps ensure there is diversity, or many
types, of life in the oceans.
One of the things particularly special about sharks is they have been
around a long time. Sharks have lived in the oceans since dinosaurs roamed the
Earth about 64 million years ago! Scientists believe there may have even been
shark relatives living 400 million years ago. Sometimes, sharks are described as
primitive because they have existed for so many years, and they have not
changed much since then. It is amazing how long sharks have been living in the
ocean! Sharks are very different animals, and there are many things people can
learn about them.
17. What is the meaning of the word “unique” as it is used in the text?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Different qualities that makes something special.
Having parts that glow in the dark.
Having skin colors that help them blend in with their surroundings.
Being longer than a school bus.
18. What is the literary relationship that can be identified in paragraph 2 of “Shark Facts”?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Cause and effect
Compare and contrast
Sequence of events
Fact and opinion
19. Why do different sharks have different types of teeth? Cite evidence from the selection to
support your answer.
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20. How are humans and sharks alike?
a.
b.
c.
d.
We have gills.
We spend long periods of time in the ocean.
We both live in all four oceans of the world.
We both have cartilage in our bodies.
21. Part A: What is the main idea of paragraph 3?
a.
b.
c.
d.
Sharks have lots of teeth that are used for different things.
Sharks need their teeth to eat.
Sharks will go weeks between meals.
Sharks are at the top of the ocean food chain.
Part B: Write two supporting details that prove your answer to Part A.
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