Australia and Koalas

Though koalas can walk on the ground, they are better suited for life...

• on islands off the northeastern coast

• in the high cover of branches and leaves in the forest

• by the coastline

• inside the blue gum tree

How does the author organize the information in this passage?

• The author provides details about the unusual nature and habitat of koalas.

• The author compares the arguments for and against koala rescue

• The author describes a current problem and investigates research on solutions.

• The author combines fiction and nonfiction information about koalas to explain their popularity in Australian society

What can be inferred from the information in the second paragraph regarding koalas being “pictured everywhere” in Australia?

• Capturing pictures of koalas is difficult due to their location in trees.

• Koalas are dying out, so pictures are difficult to find.

• Koalas are well-liked across Australia.

• Many ecologists are trying to save the koalas.

Read the sentence:

“The island is a natural laboratory, yielding findings that may help protect koalas elsewhere on the continent.”

What words could best replace the phrase “yielding findings” in this sentence?

• producing discoveries

• helping koalas

• giving away materials

• turning into a laboratory

What is the main idea of this passage?

• Researchers and volunteers are researching koala habitats, many of which have been destroyed.

• Koalas live in trees.

• Koalas are very unusual, carrying their young in a pouch and inhabiting only the east coast of Australia.

• Koalas are an Australian treasure, pictured on items in the grocery store and on sports team jerseys.

Choose the answer that best completes the sentence.Many hunters wanted koalas for their fur; __________, the population of koalas dropped.

• because

• during

• so

• but

The author's purpose of this passage is to...

• inform you about a species of animal in Australia

• persuade you to help koalas

• entertain you with a koala story

• inform you about Australia's history

What text structure does the author use?

• chronological

• sequence

• problem/solution

• compare/contrast

What can you infer about the impending problem for koalas?

• Wild goats will begin to plant blue gum trees to help koalas.

• Koalas will continue to thrive even if they have no trees left to eat.

• Koalas will become threatened and possibly extinct if they do not have blue gum trees to eat.

• Koalas and wild goats will work together to find another tree to eat.