Reindeer Droppings and Stinky Feet

What is the meaning of renovate as it is used in paragraphs 1 and 3?

• repair

• damage

• disguise

• raise

According to the paragraph 5, what is the relationship between a wombat burrow and the soil where it is located?

• The wombat burrow must be constructed in soil that is heavy enough to support the walls.

• The wombat burrow must be constructed in soil that will provide a soft bed for the wombat.

• The wombat burrow must be constructed in soil that is free of tree roots and large rocks

• The wombat burrow must be constructed in soil that will keep the wombat dry when it rains.

Part A: What does the author mean when she says that wombats are “lousy engineers"?

• Wombats choose to live in caves because they are too lazy to build new burrows.

• Wombats choose to live in burrows that were built by other animals previously.

• Wombats build burrows in areas where farmers or loggers destroy them by accident.

• Wombats build burrows that are unable to withstand elements such as rain

Part B: Which paragraph from the passage supports the information in Part A?

• Paragraph 3

• Paragraph 4

• Paragraph 5

• Paragraph 7

Which quote supports the inference that humans can impact the availability of old wombat burrows?

• “If the old holes have been destroyed by farming or logging, and there aren’t any wombats about that are good engineers, there won’t be any burrows for them to move into.”

• “But years ago the only way I knew how to explore was to crawl down inside on my tummy. I was nervous the first time I did it.”

• “Of course, every time it rained, the pipes filled up with mud, and he had to dig them out again.”

• “But once when Bryan and I were exploring some caves, we came upon a very startled wombat. This wombat had made the caves her home.”

How does the author support the point that wombat burrows are fascinating, according to paragraphs 6 and 7?

• by describing how the burrows can be big enough for people to explore them

• by describing how many burrows have to be built again many times over the years

• by writing how some burrows have been used for ten years or more

• by describing how the burrows are built deep underground with many rooms

What text structure does the author use in paragraph 7?

• Cause and effect to show everything she learned when she explored a wombat burrow.

• Chronological order to show what she experienced when she climbed into a wombat burrow.

• Compare and contrast to show the difference between how she studied wombat burrows in the past to how they are studied today.

• Problem and solution to show the difficulties that she and others face when trying to study wombats and their burrows.

Which quote from the passage best describes what is shown in the diagram, beneath paragrah 9, of the wombat burrow?

• “These days, zoologists can put miniature trackers or cameras on wombats to see what happens deep underground.”

• “As soon as I got inside, the passageway dipped down, then up again. Then it opened into a tiny room.”

• “The walls were hard, and the floor was soft, fine dust.”

• “After a yard or so, I came to another room. This one was even bigger.”