5.10A: Adaptations
Organisms and Environments
Amazing Adaptations
Lexile 860L
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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.
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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.
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 their bodies and using their fins.
As long as the catfish stay moist, or wet, they can survive until they 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. 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
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2
3
Which sentence below is the best summary of this passage?
A
Animals have traits that help them to survive in their
environments.
B
For many years, people have bred animals to have certain traits
that can help their owners.
C
Some animals have special traits that are very strange.
D
Everyone has a special favorite animal.
Webbed feet are to ducks, as waterproof coats are to _________.
A
Geese
B
Moles
C
Anglerfish
D
Newfoundlands
The word moist in this passage (paragraph 5) means:
A
Dry
B
Damp
C
Fishy
D
Walking
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5.10A: Adaptations
Organisms and Environments
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5
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
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
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