Text 1:

Where to See African Animals

Animals that are from Africa are some of the most fascinating animals to see. If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the animals that live in Africa, there are two ways to make this happen. The first is to visit a local zoo. Most zoos have an African section, which has many of the animals that you would find in Africa. The other, and probably the more exciting option, would be to take a trip to Africa and go on an African safari!

Visiting a Zoo

If you go to a zoo to see African animals, you can usually follow signs straight to the African section. There you will see an area that is modeled off of what an African habitat, or area where animals live, would look like. There will be tall trees for the giraffes and lots of grass and small plants for the elephants. The neat thing about seeing animals in a zoo is that you can see tons of different animals from all over the world. You can see polar bears found in Alaska or kangaroos found in Australia, just to name a few!

African Safari

An African safari is a trip that is very popular in Africa. People sign up for tours and ride around Africa to see many African animals in their homes in the wild. During an African safari, the driver is also the tour guide. He, or she, will know many facts and details about the area and the animals. During the safari, you might go by giraffes eating from tall trees, elephants spraying water from their noses, and lions laying in the sun.

Text 2:

African Animals

Africa is home to many amazing and different animals! The weather in Africa is generally very warm, but depending on where in Africa you are, you will see different habitats and animals. The top half of Africa, or the northern part, is mainly made up of deserts. The bottom half of Africa, or the southern part, is made up of plains and jungles.

Desert

African deserts are home to animals that can live in very hot temperatures, with very little water. If you were to visit an African desert you might see animals such as camels, foxes, or sheep. Reptiles also live in African deserts. Reptiles that you might see include snakes or lizards.

Plains

African plains are flat areas with a lot of grass. You might see some tall trees spread out, but the majority of this area is covered in grass. If you visit this area of Africa, you might run into some dangerous animals. The plains are where lions and cheetahs call home. However, many other animals call the plains their home. If you want to see elephants, giraffes, or zebras, the plains are where you will find them.

Jungles

The jungles in Africa are rainforests. They are filled with tall trees, plants, and many animals. If you were in an African rainforest, you might see monkeys hanging from branches or big snakes wrapped around trees. Also, brightly-colored parrots can be seen flying from tree to tree. Much bigger animals, such as gorillas and jaguars also live within all of the trees of the rainforest.

Where can the answer to the following question be found?

Where can you find lizards in Africa?

Environments

The Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is made entirely of sand. It rarely rains and is very dry. There are only a few plants, and they have small leaves. The sand is scorching and moves every time it is touched; when the wind blows, the sand shifts in all directions.

Amazon Rainforest

In the Amazon Rainforest, it rains almost every day. There are very tall trees that create a canopy, and the ground of the forest is covered in plants. The plants on the ground try to grow wide or tall to reach sunlight. The very tall trees can block much of the sunlight.

Organisms

Barrel Cactus

The barrel cactus is large and shaped like a barrel with spines and small flowers. The plant can reach up to seven feet tall. It likes to be in the full sun and only needs to be watered occasionally. It holds water in its thick base so it can go long periods without needing rain. It has thorns to keep predators from making holes and drinking the water it has stored.

Bromeliads

Bromeliads grow on tree trunks and branches and wrap their roots around the trees. They need wet habitats to grow well. They have a center portion like a cup or bowl that collects water. Their leaves are waxy, and the water slides into the center. The leaves are long and curved to collect water.

Which text feature(s) helps organize the text?

Environments

The Sahara Desert

The Sahara Desert is made entirely of sand. It rarely rains and is very dry. There are only a few plants, and they have small leaves. The sand is scorching and moves every time it is touched; when the wind blows, the sand shifts in all directions.

Amazon Rainforest

In the Amazon Rainforest, it rains almost every day. There are very tall trees that create a canopy, and the ground of the forest is covered in plants. The plants on the ground try to grow wide or tall to reach sunlight. The very tall trees can block much of the sunlight.

Organisms

Barrel Cactus

The barrel cactus is large and shaped like a barrel with spines and small flowers. The plant can reach up to seven feet tall. It likes to be in the full sun and only needs to be watered occasionally. It holds water in its thick base so it can go long periods without needing rain. It has thorns to keep predators from making holes and drinking the water it has stored.

Bromeliads

Bromeliads grow on tree trunks and branches and wrap their roots around the trees. They need wet habitats to grow well. They have a center portion like a cup or bowl that collects water. Their leaves are waxy, and the water slides into the center. The leaves are long and curved to collect water.

Which text feature(s) helps readers visualize the details of the text?

Which text feature provides more information about a photograph, illustration, or graphic?

Which text feature would best help a reader find where in the text a topic is located?