5.10A: Adaptations
Organisms and Environments
Amazing Adaptations
Lexile 860L - B
1
Do you have a favorite animal? Do you
love furry dogs? Maybe you’re fascinated
by sharks with rows of sharp teeth? No
matter which animal you would choose as
a favorite, you can be guaranteed that it
has amazing qualities, or traits, that help it
survive. The traits that help animals
survive in their environments are called
adaptations.
2
Each species’ unique traits evolved to help it survive in a specific environment.
For example, birds that swim a lot – such as geese and ducks - often have webbed
feet. Even some dogs that were bred to be good in the water have webbed feet.
Webbed feet aren’t only handy in a wet environment, however. Moles also have
webbed feet, but they use them for digging.
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Webbed feet are a common example of an adaptation. However, some animals’ traits
seem quite uncommon to humans. Anglerfish live in the deepest parts of the ocean.
They live in such deep places that the light of the sun doesn’t reach them through the
water. So how can a fish survive in complete darkness? Well, anglerfish have their
own flashlights!
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The female anglerfish has a piece of her spine that sticks out over her head and
lights up. It looks like a big lantern hanging in front of her face. The light is produced
by tiny bacteria. But this light isn’t just for seeing in the deep, dark ocean. The
anglerfish actually uses it to attract other fish. Smaller fish see the light and swim
near. When the small fish get close enough, the anglerfish can eat them.
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Another fish with a strange adaptation is the walking catfish. These fish live in
Southeast Asia, in ponds, rice paddies, and swamps that sometimes dry up. When
their homes dry up, the walking catfish can travel across land by wiggling its body
and using its fins. As long as the catfish stays moist, or wet, it can survive until it
finds a new pond or swamp to swim in.
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5.10A: Adaptations
Organisms and Environments
Continued
6
Humans have found ways to use animals’ amazing adaptations. For example,
fishermen who fish in cold water partner with Newfoundland dogs. Humans have thin
skins and would freeze if they jumped into the cold waters off the Canadian coast.
But Newfoundland dogs have thick, waterproof coats that keep them warm in the icy
water. They also have webbed feet. These dogs jump into the water and pull heavy
nets back to the fishermen.
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So, think about your favorite animal and what makes it so special. Those special
characteristics evolved to help that animal survive in its environment.
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5.10A: Adaptations
Organisms and Environments
1
Which sentence below is the best
summary of this passage?
A
B
3
The word moist in this passage
(paragraph 5) means:
Animals have traits that help
them to survive in their
environments.
A
Dry
B
Damp
For many years, people have
bred animals to have certain
traits that can help their
owners.
C
Fishy
D
Walking
C
Some animals have special
traits that are very strange.
D
Everyone has a special
favorite animal.
(5.2B)
(5.11A)
2
Webbed feet are to ducks, as
waterproof coats are to
_________.
A
Geese
B
Moles
C
Anglerfish
D
Newfoundlands
4
When would the walking catfish
need to walk on land?
A
When a larger fish is chasing
it
B
When it can’t find any food
C
During a dry season
D
When the water is polluted
(Fig. 19D)
(5.2C)
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5.10A: Adaptations
Organisms and Environments
5
The author probably wrote this
passage to:
A
Persuade kids to study
animals
B
Tell a story about interesting
animals
C
Describe adaptations and
how they help animals survive
D
Amaze people with facts
about strange animals
(5.10)
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