Flying Lessons for Big Bird

What was the initial assumption of the tourists about the pelican that landed on the beach?

• The pelican was an adult due to its large size.

• The pelican was a rare species.

• The pelican was a female.

• The pelican was a trained bird.

How did the resort staff determine that Big Bird was a male pelican?

• His facial mask turned pink.

• His beak was shorter and straighter.

• His elastic pouch and legs turned orange.

• His wingspan was nearly 12 feet.

What method did the staff use to teach Big Bird how to fly?

• They flapped their arms to simulate flying.

• They used a miniature camera to record his flight.

• They fed him more fish to gain strength.

• They built a special runway for him.

Why did the resort staff ask the park authority for permission to feed Big Bird?

• Because Big Bird did not have a flock to help him catch fish.

• Because Big Bird was a rare species that needed special care.

• Because the tourists wanted to see Big Bird eat.

• Because Big Bird was too young to catch fish on his own.

What was the reaction of the staff when Big Bird finally managed to fly?

• They were proud and called him a clever bird.

• They were disappointed because he flew away.

• They were indifferent as it was expected.

• They were worried about his safety.

What change occurred in Big Bird's appearance as he grew?

• His facial mask turned pink and his beak grew longer.

• His feathers turned completely white.

• His wingspan decreased.

• His legs turned orange.

What is uncertain about Big Bird's future according to the passage?

• Whether he will stay at the resort or join a flock.

• Whether he will learn to catch fish on his own.

• Whether he will grow larger than other pelicans.

• Whether he will become a tourist attraction.

Based on paragraphs 4 and 5, what can the reader infer about the staff members at the resort?

• They needed more training to learn how to help animals.

• They used the resort’s blog to share information about native wildlife.

• They wanted to make sure that Big Bird learned a necessary skill.

• They thought that having Big Bird at the resort would discourage tourists from visiting.

How does the author organize the information in paragraph 3?

• The author uses cause and effect to explain why the appearance of pelicans changes.

• The author uses logical order to help the reader understand how pelicans came to look the way they do.

• The author uses sequential order to show what is interesting about the way pelicans fish.

• The author uses compare and contrast to explain what male and female pelicans look like.

The author’s primary purpose for writing the selection is to —

• share interesting facts about a large species of bird

• explain how the staff at a resort is taking care of a large bird as it grows up

• tell about the methods bird experts use to encourage birds to fly

• describe how a lost bird caused problems for tourists at a beach resort