Reading Passage
Ever since they were discovered by early settlers, kangaroos have fascinated
biologists. They are unique animals, considered both comical and exotic. They are
found only in Australia, New Zealand and a few surrounding islands.
There are more than fifty species of kangaroos in existence today. The best known
and largest species is the red and gray kangaroos, which can stand up to six feet
and can weigh nearly 200 pounds. But there are kangaroo breeds that are much
smaller, such as the musky rat kangaroo, which is only one foot tall. Kangaroos are
very adaptable and can live in almost any climate. They can be found in mountainous
regions, deserts, grasslands, even remote islands off the coast of southwestern
Australia.
Kangaroos are very well suited to their environment. They have adapted over
millions of years to fit into their ecological niche. They have large ears, and relatively
small heads. Their front limbs are very small, but their paws are very nimble. Their
hind legs are very large and powerful. When they are moving slowly, kangaroos walk
on all four limbs, with the front limbs barely touching the ground. But when they feel
the need to move quickly, they stand nearly upright, and start hopping on their hind
legs. When they begin to hop, kangaroos use their muscular, agile tails to balance
themselves, and to help them change direction.
Like all marsupials, kangaroos carry their offspring in a pouch. The mother kangaroo
may nurse her young, called a joey, for up to a year. Because the joeys stay in a
pouch for so long, kangaroos almost never have more than one baby at a time. They
typically raise one litter per year, though environmental conditions sometimes make
this impossible. If they survive childhood, kangaroos can live as long as eighteen
years in the wild, even longer in captivity.
Except for the smallest species like the musky rat kangaroo, which eats insects and
small animals, kangaroos are herbivores, subsisting upon grass and other forest
vegetation. Like many other grazing animals, kangaroos have developed multi-
chambered stomachs to aid in the breakdown of otherwise indigestible plant material.
Questions
1. According to the passage, which of the following is NOT true about kangaroos?
kangaroos carry their offspring in a pouch
kangaroos have multi-chambered stomachs
kangaroos use their tails for balance
kangaroos can weigh nearly 300 pounds
2. When do kangaroos switch from walking on four legs to walking on two legs?
when they are frightened
when they need to move fast
when their front limbs are holding something
when their front limbs are tired
3. The follow sentence can be added to the first paragraph. Where would it best fit in
the paragraph? Click on the square to add the sentence to the paragraph.
Insert this sentence
Passage
Perhaps because of
1 Ever since they were their existence in such
discovered by early settlers, remote locations,
kangaroos have fascinated kangaroos are regarded
biologists. 2 They are unique with fascination by
animals, considered both comical schoolchildren all the
and exotic. 3 They are found only world over.
in Australia, New Zealand and a
few surrounding islands. 4
4. Look at the word species in paragraph 2. Click on the word that is closest in
meaning to species.
There are more than fifty species of kangaroos in existence today. The best known
and largest species is the red and gray kangaroos, which can stand up to six feet
and can weigh nearly 200 pounds. But there are kangaroo breeds that are much
smaller, such as the musky rat kangaroo, which is only one foot tall. Kangaroos are
very adaptable and can live in almost any climate. They can be found in mountainous
regions, deserts, grasslands, even remote islands off the coast of southwestern
Australia.
5. Look at the first sentence of the passage. What does the pronoun they refer to?
Ever since they were discovered by early settlers, kangaroos have fascinated
biologists.
settlers
kangaroos
biologists
natives
6. Look at the word nimble in paragraph 3. Click on the word that is closest in
meaning to nimble.
Kangaroos are very well suited to their environment. They have adapted over
millions of years to fit into their ecological niche. They have large ears, and relatively
small heads. Their front limbs are very small, but their paws are very nimble. Their
hind legs are very large and powerful. When they are moving slowly, kangaroos walk
on all four limbs, with the front limbs barely touching the ground. But when they feel
the need to move quickly, they stand nearly upright, and start hopping on their hind
legs. When they begin to hop, kangaroos use their muscular, agile tails to balance
themselves, and to help them change direction.
7. Look at the word them in paragraph 3. Click on the word that them is referring to.
Kangaroos are very well suited to their environment. They have adapted over
millions of years to fit into their ecological niche. They have large ears, and relatively
small heads. Their front limbs are very small, but their paws are very nimble. Their
hind legs are very large and powerful. When they are moving slowly, kangaroos walk
on all four limbs, with the front limbs barely touching the ground. But when they feel
the need to move quickly, they stand nearly upright, and start hopping on their hind
legs. When they begin to hop, kangaroos use their muscular, agile tails to balance
themselves, and to help them change direction.
8. Look at the word their in paragraph 4. Click on the word that their refers to.
Like all marsupials, kangaroos carry their offspring in a pouch. The mother kangaroo
may nurse her young, called a joey, for up to a year. Because the joeys stay in a
pouch for so long, kangaroos almost never have more than one baby at a time. They
typically raise one litter per year, though environmental conditions sometimes make
this impossible. If they survive childhood, kangaroos can live as long as eighteen
years in the wild, even longer in captivity.
