3.8 Understanding Polar Bear Adaptations

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. What color is a polar bear’s fur?

• Black

• White

• Brown

• Gray

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. Which of the following is a key detail about how polar bears stay warm in the polar region?

• They eat only plants.

• They have thick fur and a layer of fat.

• They live in trees.

• They have long tails.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.1

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RL.2.1

CCSS.RL.3.1

CCSS.RL.3.2

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. What is the main idea of the passage about polar bears?

• Polar bears are good swimmers.

• Polar bears are adapted to live in the polar region.

• Polar bears eat fish.

• Polar bears are endangered.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. Which event happens first in the life of a polar bear cub?

• The cub learns to swim.

• The cub is born in a den.

• The cub hunts for seals.

• The cub leaves its mother.

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. Which of the following best explains why polar bears have white fur?

• To help them swim faster

• To keep them cool

• To blend in with the snow and ice

• To attract other animals

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

CCSS.RL.4.2

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. How does the thick layer of fat under a polar bear’s skin help it survive in the polar region?

• It helps the bear run faster.

• It keeps the bear warm in cold temperatures.

• It helps the bear see better.

• It makes the bear lighter.

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. Read the following steps: 1. The polar bear spots a seal on the ice. 2. The polar bear quietly sneaks up on the seal. 3. The polar bear catches the seal for food. What is the cause and effect relationship in these steps?

• The polar bear is hungry, so it sleeps.

• The polar bear sneaks up on the seal, so it can catch it for food.

• The seal runs away, so the polar bear swims.

• The polar bear plays with the seal.

Tags

CCSS.RI.3.3

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. Which sentence from the passage best supports the main idea that polar bears are adapted to the polar region?

• “Polar bears have thick fur and a layer of fat to keep them warm.”

• “Polar bears are the largest land carnivores.”

• “Polar bears can swim for long distances.”

• “Polar bears have sharp claws.”

Tags

CCSS.RI.2.2

CCSS.RI.3.2

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.3.2

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. Imagine a polar bear is moved to a warm, tropical region. Based on what you know from the passage, what might happen to the polar bear?

• It would be able to find more food.

• It might get too hot because of its thick fur and fat.

• It would blend in better with the environment.

• It would grow longer fur.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.5.1

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.5.1

CCSS.RL.6.1

Read the passage below and answer the question. **Passage:** Polar bears are large mammals that live in the cold polar regions near the Arctic. They are well adapted to survive in this harsh environment. Polar bears have thick white fur that helps them blend in with the snow and ice, making it easier to sneak up on their prey. Under their skin, they have a thick layer of fat, called blubber, which keeps them warm in freezing temperatures. Polar bears are excellent swimmers and can travel long distances in search of food. They mainly eat seals, which they catch by waiting patiently near holes in the ice. Polar bear cubs are born in dens made of snow, where they stay warm and safe until they are strong enough to go outside. These adaptations help polar bears survive and thrive in the polar region, where it is very cold and food can be hard to find. A scientist wants to study how polar bears hunt for food. She writes down the steps she observes: 1. The bear waits by a hole in the ice. 2. The bear sees a seal come up for air. 3. The bear catches the seal. Why is it important for the scientist to record the steps in order?

• To make the story more interesting

• To understand the sequence of how polar bears hunt

• To show that polar bears are friendly

• To prove that polar bears can swim

Tags

CCSS.RI.1.5

CCSS.RI.2.5

CCSS.RI.3.5

CCSS.RI.4.5

CCSS.RI.5.5