Fig19F. Cholla Cactus (2016)

"The Cholla Cactus"

What is the main idea of the section titled “A Prickly Feast”?

• People sometimes roast the buds of certain types of cholla cactus.

• The cholla cactus attracts bees because of its pollen.

• People and animals eat parts of the cholla cactus.

• The fruit of the cholla cactus is quite juicy.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

"The Cholla Cactus"

According to the article, rainwater is stored in the cholla cactus’s —

• spines

• roots

• flowers

• stems

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

"Cactus Wren"

Why does the cactus wren “like thorns in all directions”?

• They offer cool shade from the desert heat.

• They help keep intruders away.

• They are a source of food for the young hatchlings.

• They prevent the baby birds from moving around in the nest.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.5

CCSS.RL.5.4

CCSS.RL.5.5

CCSS.RL.6.4

"Cactus Wren"

The poet uses the word “stickery” in line 21 to help readers understand —

• how animals are able to find an abandoned nest

• where the wren sits on the cactus to sing in the afternoons

• how much work the wren does to build a nest

• why most animals would not want to touch the cactus

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.7

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.7

BOTH

Which sentence best describes a difference between the article and the poem?

• The article consists of factual information, while the poem allows for a deeper understanding of an animal’s experience.

• The article describes the appearance of the cholla cactus, while the poem describes its growth patterns.

• The article discusses the usefulness of the cholla cactus, while the poem does not.

• The article describes an animal’s daily activities, while the poem does not.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

BOTH

According to the article and the poem, a cactus wren lives in a cholla cactus in order to —

• be near food for its young

• be close to a source of water

• seek shelter from the sun

• be protected from other animals

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

BOTH

Which sentence from the article best expresses the cactus wren’s experience in the poem?

• The cholla cactus also provides tasty meals for many other desert animals.

• They roll the buds on a hard surface to remove the spines and then roast them slowly on an open fire.

• Precipitation is scarce in the desert, but cholla stems store rainwater that is absorbed through the plant’s root system.

• The cholla cactus not only survives in the desert but also helps animals live comfortably in this extreme environment.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9

BOTH

Which idea do both the article and the poem support?

• Animals adapt to their environment.

• Animals often work together.

• Nature changes unexpectedly.

• People should rely on desert resources for food.

Tags

CCSS.RI.5.7

CCSS.RI.6.7

CCSS.RL.4.7

CCSS.RL.5.7

CCSS.RL.6.9