Austin’s Secret Salamander

What is the main idea of the selection?

• Salamanders are amphibians that live in water and on land.

• The Austin Blind Salamander is a special species that helps keep the environment balanced.

• Aquifers are important sources of water for people.

• Salamanders are long and skinny with wet skin.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Where does the Austin Blind Salamander live?

• In the Edwards Aquifer

• In the Barton Springs

• In the water-filled caves of the Edwards Aquifer

• In the capital of Texas

Why are Austin Blind Salamanders important to humans?

• They are a source of food.

• They help keep the water clean and balanced.

• They are a popular pet.

• They provide water for agriculture.

What does the word 'keystone' mean in the selection?

• A) A type of rock

• B) A species that is important to the environment

• C) A type of salamander

• D) A source of water

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RI.5.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.5.4

What would happen if the Austin Blind Salamanders left the aquifer?

• The water would become unsafe to drink.

• The aquifer would dry up.

• The salamanders would become extinct.

• The water would become too cold.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.3

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

What do the Austin Blind Salamanders need to stay healthy in their environment?

Fill in the blank: The Austin Blind Salamander has a _______ tail with fins.

• blank

• long

• short

• curved

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5

The central idea of the article is that (a)  

• Salamanders play an important role
• Scientists study how different sala
• Salamanders need to live in certain
• People should visit the salamanders

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RI.5.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

What is the best summary of the section titled “Texas’s Special Salamander”?

• Aquifers keep water deep underground. The Austin Blind Salamander swims in an aquifer.

• The Austin Blind Salamander only lives in the Edwards Aquifer in Texas. It has special features that help it live there.

• The Austin Blind Salamander has red gills. It is a small creature that can be different colors.

• There is an important aquifer beneath the spring in Barton Springs, Texas. Different types of salamanders live there.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.9

CCSS.RI.5.9

CCSS.RI.6.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

CCSS.RL.5.2

What is the most likely reason the author uses a simile to compare the aquifer to a honeycomb in paragraph 7?

• To explain how deep aquifers are

• To describe the sizes of different aquifers

• To describe how aquifers look

• To explain what aquifers are made from

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

CCSS.RI.6.5

CCSS.RI.7.5

CCSS.RI.8.5