"The Cholla Cactus" and "Cactus Wren"

Use “The Cholla Cactus” to answer the following question.

What are the most likely reasons the author includes paragraphs 1 and 2 of the article “The Cholla Cactus”?

Select TWO correct answers.

• To connect the reader to the topic

• To argue for the protection of a species

• To explain how a cactus grows in the desert

• To provide a mental picture of the subject

• To show how animals survive in harsh climates

Which sentences from paragraphs 4 through 6 show that the cholla cactus is difficult to harvest?

Select the TWO correct answers.

• The desert bighorn sheep, for example, has learned to get water from the cholla cactus.

• The animal uses its large curled horns and its hooves to tear off pieces of a cholla and remove the spines.

• Bees enjoy the pollen of its colorful blooms.

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

• Cholla buds contain protein, calcium, and fibe —all of which are important to good health.

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.

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

• spines

• roots

• flowers

• stems

The author included the information in paragraph 1 to help the reader —

• visualize a hot desert region

• learn about people who live in extreme conditions

• understand the kinds of plants that live in sandy soil

• identify the ways in which animals survive in the desert

What do the subheadings in the article help the reader understand?

• There are many different types of cholla.

• The author is knowledgeable about desert animals.

• The cholla can be used for different purposes.

• Many animals live in severe environments.

Use “The Cholla Cactus” to answer the following question.

Read the question carefully. Then record your answer in the box provided.

Based on paragraph 7 of the article “The Cholla Cactus,” why does the wood rat use the cholla cactus to build its nest?

Support your answer with evidence from the article.

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Use “Cactus Wren” (pp. 16–17) to answer the following questions.

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.

In lines 1 through 13, the poet contrasts the wren’s behavior with that of other desert animals to show that the wren —

• feels comfortable in the heat of the desert

• worries about the needs of other animals

• makes noises that are more pleasant to listen to

• copies the actions of other animals

Which definition best fits the way entrance is used in line 25?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4