Paired Passages Review

What is the author’s primary purpose in writing “Of Feathers, Fat, and Freezing”? 

• To provide information about the best locations for chickadees to live in order to survive 

• To describe the ways chickadees have adapted to be able to stay alive in cold climates 

• To communicate the problems chickadees encounter as a result of their small size

• To explain how the feathers of chickadees function in different environments

Which sentence from “Of Feathers, Fat, and Freezing” best supports the idea that chickadees take action to keep their bodies warm at night? 

• This means that sometimes there is well over a 100-degree difference between a chickadee’s body and the air temperature only an inch away. (paragraph 3)

• Without any feathered insulation, heat would quickly be lost and much energy wasted in attempting to keep their toes as warm as the rest of the body. (paragraph 6) 

• Since they don’t have crops in which they can store food to eat later, they must eat enough each day to survive the long, 18-hour night. (paragraph 9)

• They do not roost together in flocks as some birds do but spend the night alone. (paragraph 10)

What is the best summary of “Of Feathers, Fat, and Freezing”?

• Chickadees may be small birds, but they are very strong and intelligent. Unlike other birds, chickadees do not migrate in the winter. Instead, they enjoy staying in cold climates such as Alaska, even though the temperature can be much colder than their bodies. 

• Chickadees are tiny birds that can be found in extremely cold climates. To stay warm, they rely on fluffing their feathers, eating lots of food, and using the nights for sleeping. They have found many ways to protect their bodies from becoming too cold. 

• When the winters grow colder, chickadees spend time fluffing their feathers. The colder it becomes, the more they fluff, so that sometimes they look like furry balls. By doing this, they are able to stay warm and protect their skin from the icy temperatures an inch away. 

• Many people have seen the tiny birds known as black-capped chickadees. Although these birds are only the size of a person’s thumb, they have very thick feathers. They also prepare by storing food so that they can survive during long winters

The actions described in the first stanza (lines 1–4) of “Chickadee’s Song” suggest that the speaker is —

• surprised

• hardworking

• carefree

• greedy

The poet’s use of line length in “Chickadee’s Song” helps contribute to the poem’s — 

• change in tone 

• vivid imagery 

• rhythm

• alliteration

The imagery in lines 3 and 4 of “Chickadee’s Song” creates a sense of — 

• loneliness

• affection

• acceptance

• security

The rhythm and rhyme scheme used in “Chickadee’s Song” contributes to a mood of — 

• gratefulness

• cheerful energy

• curiosity

• mutual respect

What do BOTH “Of Feathers, Fat, and Freezing” and “Chickadee’s Song”  describe? 

• Methods that chickadees use to stay warm 

• Ways that chickadees help each other survive

• What chickadees must do without in harsh conditions

• Changes that occur inside the bodies of chickadees

Which statement from “Of Feathers, Fat, and Freezing” is best supported by “Chickadee’s Song”? 

• These friendly little birds are often seen at bird feeders throughout the winter. (paragraph 2)

• They are plump-looking critters, with black, white, and gray feathers, and they live year-round in the forests of North America, from Alaska through Canada and across the northern states. (paragraph 2)

• Chickadees begin preparing for winter while the green leaves of summer are still on the trees. (paragraph 8)

• Although fragile in many ways, the tiny black-capped chickadee shows how tough it really is by surviving the bitterly cold winters of northern North America. (paragraph 11) 

Which is an action in “Chickadee’s Song” that is not described in “Of Feathers, Fat, and Freezing”? 

• Storing food in tree bark 

• Allowing feet to become cold 

• Drinking water from icicles 

• Burning fat all night long