Reading SOL: How Animals Adapt to Desert Life

The idea that many animals live successfully in deserts can be supported by the fact that --

• there is little rainfall in most deserts
• mice and gerbils live in the desert
• hundreds of animals have adapted to desert conditions
• there are challenges linked with living in a desert

Read this sentence from paragraph 1: High winds often whip across a desert, blowing bits of sand and dust.
The author uses this sentence to create an image of --

• a weather forecast
• severe desert conditions
• a sandy beach
• major thunderstorm conditions

Read this sentence from the article: He fills it with dirt to keep out the heat and any unwanted visitors.
In which word does un- mean the same as it does in unwanted?

• uncle
• uniform
• unaware
• underneath

What happens when a kangaroo rat eats dry seeds?

• Its body uses the seeds to keep the rat cool.
• Its body turns the seeds into food and water.
• It gets thirsty and looks for sources of water.
• It can go for a long time without eating again.

Many desert animals burrow during the day because --

• the sun makes them tired
• they enjoy taking long naps
• they want to avoid the heat
• the night temperature is cool

Based on information in the article, why do some desert animals have thick coats?

• To keep the animals warm
• To block the heat from the sun
• To protect them from enemies
• To help the animals hide in the sand

Which paragraph in the article could have the heading "Daytime Sleepers"?

• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

To find synonyms that could be used in place of "gulp," a student should look in --

• an almanac
• a thesaurus
• an atlas
• an encyclopedia