Lesson 10
Part 4: Guided Practice
Read the scientific account. Use the Study Buddy and Close Reading to guide your reading.
Genre: Scientific Account
As I read, I'm going to
look for any connotative,
figurative, or technical
language the author uses
to describe the attributes
of armadillos,
Close Reading
Underline examples of
figurative language in
the first and fourth
paragraphs
Armadillo Attributes By Karen Olson
The word armadillo comes from a Spanish word meaning "little
armored one." The armadillo earned its name from the bony
carapace that shields the armadillo's body like hinged plates of
armor. This protective covering has helped this homely mammal
survive for about 55 million years,
Armadillos are related to sloths and anteaters. They may also
be descendants of ancient dinosaurs. Some scientists believe
modern armadillos are related to an extinct mammal called the
glyptodont (GLIP-toh dont). Like armadillos, glyptodonts
originated in South America,
Today, more than 20 species of armadillos live in Central and
South America. The nine-banded armadillo is the only species in
the United States. It is now found in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,
Missouri, Louisiana, and parts of Florida.
Armadillos have many strange yet fascinating traits. In order
to swim, they can swallow air to inflate their stomachs,
becoming as buoyant as a balloon floating on the water. When
threatened, armadillos may react defensively by jumping three to
four feet into the air. Some are able to curl up into tight balls.
Armadillos have terrible eyesight, so they use their foolproof
sense of smell to find food. They probe grasses, decaying logs, or
sandy soil with their pointy snouts. Once they locate beetles,
ants, or other insects they like to eat, they eagerly dig them out!
with sharp claws and trap them with narrow, sticky tongues,
Armadillos are the only mammals with protective shells. You
might assume that these shells and other traits make armadillos
immune from danger, however, predators such as dogs, wolves,
and coyotes hunt these peaceful animals. Sadly, speeding cars
and trucks can also injure or kill them. Despite these ever-
present threats, armadillos continue to survive in a variety of
habitats and climates
Circle words with strong
connotations used to
describe the armadillo.
Curriculum Associate
cupying is not permitted