Understand Sense Vocabulary

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1st Grade Reading › Understand Sense Vocabulary

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1

Arctic Animals

The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.

Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.

Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.

Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.

Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.

Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.

Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.

Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.

The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.

Based on the text, what is a “predator”?

An Arctic fox

An animal that is eaten by other animals

An animal that hunts other animals

An animal that lives in the Arctic.

Explanation

The text says the Arctic fox “has thick, white fur to keep them warm and stay safe from predators.” The white fur will help the fox blend in with the white snow and hide from animals that want to hunt and eat it. A predator "An animal that hunts other animals

2

Bella’s Birthday Surprise

Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.

Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”

“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around.

“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!”

“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!

“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.

How does Bella feel at the end of the story?

Sad

Disappointed

Excited

Thanksful

Explanation

Bella is thankful at the end of the story because her friends did not forget her birthday.

3

Seed to Plant

A plant starts as a small seed. Different seeds become different plants. It is a long journey from a seed to a plant.

First a seed finds its spot in the dirt. Some seeds travel very far before they finally land. Wind can spread seeds long distances. Other seeds are carried and dropped by animals such as squirrels or birds.

Next seeds need water and sunlight. Soon the seed breaks open and roots begin to grow down into the ground. Roots soak up water and nutrients from the soil. Soon a small stem pops out above the ground.

The small stem continues to grow and forms leaves. The leaves soak up more water and sunlight to help the plant grow. Seeds and plants depend on sunlight and water to grow. Water and sunlight are food for plants.

Some plants have flowers and others have fruit. Flowers and fruit make more seeds. These seeds will drop and spread and soon start their journey to becoming a plant.

What is the meaning of the word depend in the sentence “Seeds and plants depend on sunlight and water to grow.”?

want

need

dislike

like

Explanation

Seeds and plants need water and sunlight to grow. Water and sunlight give seeds and plants the food they need. Thus, depend means to need.

4

Bella’s Birthday Surprise

Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.

Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”

“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around.

“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!”

“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!

“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.

How does Bella feel when she gets downstairs?

Happy

Worried

Surprised

Excited

Explanation

Bella is worried when she gets downstairs because no one is there and she thinks that her friends forgot her birthday.

5

Fox and Friends

Today, I woke up feeling sad. In a forest full of other animals, I do not have a friend. No one wants to be friends with me because I am a fox. When animals see me coming they run away.

As I walk to the pond, I hear laughing and a lot of splashing. I see a deer and a rabbit playing in the water. The deer is laughing and smiling. He looks very happy.

I decide to hide behind a bush and ask them if I can play. This way they can hear me but not see me. “Can I come play with you?” I yell.

The deer and rabbit look for me, but they cannot see me. The deer says, “Yes, but you have to stop hiding!”

When I come out the rabbit seems scared, but the deer comes straight to me and gives me a big hug. As I play in the pond with my two friends, I feel so happy.

How does the fox feel at the start of the story?

Sad

Happy

Excited

Tired

Explanation

The start of the story is always at the beginning. We learn in the first sentence that the fox is sad.

Today, I woke up feeling sad. In a forest full of other animals, I do not have a friend. No one wants to be friends with me because I am a fox. When animals see me coming they run away.

6

Bella’s Birthday Surprise

Bella jumped out of bed as soon as the sun came up. “Today is my birthday!” she shouted.

Bella flew down the stairs. But where is everyone? She thought when she got downstairs. She looked and looked. “Where are my friends? Where are my presents? Where is my cake? Oh dear! Everyone forgot my birthday!”

“SURPRISE!” Bella heard. She jumped and turned around.

“There are my friends! There are my presents! There is my cake!”

“We didn’t forget your birthday,” said Neil!

“Thank you, thank you,” cried Bella. And they all ate cake.

How does Bella feel when she wakes up?

Tired

Excited

Sad

Surprised

Explanation

Bella is excited when she wakes up because it is her birthday. She jumped out of bed and flew down the stairs showing that she is excited about what will happen next.

7

Seed to Plant

A plant starts as a small seed. Different seeds become different plants. It is a long journey from a seed to a plant.

First a seed finds its spot in the dirt. Some seeds travel very far before they finally land. Wind can spread seeds long distances. Other seeds are carried and dropped by animals such as squirrels or birds.

Next seeds need water and sunlight. Soon the seed breaks open and roots begin to grow down into the ground. Roots soak up water and nutrients from the soil. Soon a small stem pops out above the ground.

The small stem continues to grow and forms leaves. The leaves soak up more water and sunlight to help the plant grow. Seeds and plants depend on sunlight and water to grow. Water and sunlight are food for plants.

Some plants have flowers and others have fruit. Flowers and fruit make more seeds. These seeds will drop and spread and soon start their journey to becoming a plant.

What is the meaning of the word spread as it is used in the sentence “Wind can spread seeds long distances.”?

To be cold

To have a lot of wind

To move around

To grow

Explanation

Seeds are spread before they finally fall into the dirt and begin to grow. Wind and animals both help seeds move around. Spread means to move around.

8

Arctic Animals

The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.

Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.

Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.

Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.

Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.

Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.

Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.

Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.

The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.

Based on the text, what is the meaning of “difficult”?

lonely

hard

easy

sad

Explanation

The text says “Living in the Arctic is difficult….” The paragraph also gave details about snow, ice and freezing temperatures – this shows that it would be hard to live in the Arctic.

9

Arctic Animals

The Arctic is one of the coldest places on Earth. It is covered in ice and snow and the temperature can drop below freezing. Living in the Arctic is very difficult but many animals call the Arctic home.

Arctic hares live in the Arctic. In the summer, the Arctic hare has brown fur. In the winter, when temperatures drop, the hare’s fur grows thicker and warmer. Their fur also turns white in the winter.

Snowy owls live in the Arctic. They have small ears to keep in heat. Unlike most owls, the snowy owl hunts during the day. Snowy owls have 2 layers of warm feathers. The snowy owl’s entire body is covered in warm feathers- even its legs and toes.

Arctic foxes live in the Arctic. When winter comes the Arctic fox changes its brown summer fur for a thicker coat of white fur. The Arctic fox’s warm, snowy coat keeps it warm in cold temperatures and protects it from predators.

Wolves live in the Arctic. They have thick white and gray fur. Groups of Arctic wolves hunt together in packs.

Harp seals live in the Arctic. Adult harp seals have a thick layer of fat, called blubber. Blubber keeps seals warm in the cold, icy arctic water. Baby seals have thick white fur. The baby pup quickly builds its blubber and loses its fluffy coat.

Penguins live in the Arctic. Penguins have webbed feet to help them walk on the ice. Penguins are very good swimmers. They use their wings to help them swim. When penguins are born they have a thick, fluffy coat of gray and white down feathers. Adult penguins have a waterproof coat of feathers to help then stay dry and warm in the icy, Arctic water.

Polar bears live in the Arctic. Polar bears have thick, white fur to stay warm. They even have fur on the bottoms of their feet. Polar bears also have thick blubber.

The Arctic is a difficult place to live but many animals have found ways to stay warm and survive here.

Which category do the following words belong in?

blubber, fur, feathers

Ways animals stay warm in the Arctic

Ways people stay warm in the Arctic

Things animals do in the cold

Ways animals stay cool in the summer

Explanation

Blubber, fur and feathers are all ways animals stay warm in the Arctic. Seals and polar bears have a thick layer of blubber to stay warm. Arctic hares, Arctic foxes, polar bears and wolves all have thick fur to keep them warm in the cold Arctic winter. The snowy owl and the penguin have feathers to stay warm in the Arctic.

10

Seed to Plant

A plant starts as a small seed. Different seeds become different plants. It is a long journey from a seed to a plant.

First a seed finds its spot in the dirt. Some seeds travel very far before they finally land. Wind can spread seeds long distances. Other seeds are carried and dropped by animals such as squirrels or birds.

Next seeds need water and sunlight. Soon the seed breaks open and roots begin to grow down into the ground. Roots soak up water and nutrients from the soil. Soon a small stem pops out above the ground.

The small stem continues to grow and forms leaves. The leaves soak up more water and sunlight to help the plant grow. Seeds and plants depend on sunlight and water to grow. Water and sunlight are food for plants.

Some plants have flowers and others have fruit. Flowers and fruit make more seeds. These seeds will drop and spread and soon start their journey to becoming a plant.

Which of the following words does not belong?

Roots

Leaves

Stem

Soil

Explanation

Roots, leaves and stem are all parts of a plant. Soil is not part of a plant.

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