activity of text interpretation, aimed at students in the fifth year of elementary school, about the manatee. It received this name because it lives in the water and, like the ox, it is a herbivore (feeds only on vegetables). How about getting to know him better? So, read the text carefully! Then answer the various interpretative questions proposed!
You can download this text comprehension activity in editable Word template, ready to print to PDF and also the activity with answers.
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SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
Read:
The manatee or manatee (as it is also known) is an aquatic mammal. It received this name because it lives in the water and, like the ox, is a herbivore (feeds only on vegetables).
Manatees are very docile beings that inhabit rivers, estuaries and seas. The marine species can measure 4 meters and reach 800 kilos. The freshwater one (existing only in the Amazon) is smaller, measuring around 2.5 meters and weighing 300 kilos. These animals are very sweet. They can spend up to 8 hours eating and ingest the equivalent of 10% of their weight (for example: a 300 kg manatee eats about 30 kg of food a day!).
Manatees are animals that live a long time, more or less 50 years, reaching, in some cases, 60. But unfortunately the life span of these docile animals is decreasing more and more, due to the actions of man. Therefore, all existing species in the world are in danger of extinction and one has already become extinct. Manatee hunting has been prohibited since 1971, but even today they are captured for their meat, oil and leather. In addition to hunting, many animals are trapped in fishing nets and end up drowning. As the manatees live in shallow waters, close to the coast, they also suffer from the pollution of the beaches and from the boats that pass quickly and run over them.
But not everything is lost. Here in Brazil, in 1980, the Peixe-Boi Project was created, which rescues, takes care of injured animals and reintroduces them into their habitat. In addition, the project also reproduces calves in captivity, which helps to increase the population of these animals. Interested in these animals? Want to know the project? The national headquarters is in Pernambuco in the city of Itamaracá. There are three other bases, one in Mamanguape in Paraíba, another in Pirapoeira in Alagoas and the last one in Cajueiro da Praia in Piai.
Paula Barja. Available in: .
(With cuts and adaptations).
Question 1 – In the passage "He received this name because it lives in the water and, like the ox, is a herbivore [...]”, the highlighted term refers to:
Question 2 – The excerpt “The marine species can measure 4 meters and reach 800 kilos.” It is:
( ) a narration.
( ) a description.
( ) an argument.
Question 3 – In the part “[…] a 300-kilogram manatee eats about 30 kilos of food a day!), the exclamation point expresses the feeling of:
( ) fear.
( ) happiness.
( ) admiration.
Question 4 – In the sentence “Manatee hunting has been prohibited since 1971, but they are still captured today for its flesh, oil and its hide.”, the underlined passage reveals:
( ) the reasons for hunting manatees.
( ) the conditions of manatee hunting.
( ) the consequences of manatee hunting.
Question 5 – According to the text, many manatees “end up drowning”, because:
( ) “get caught in fishing nets”.
( ) “suffer from beach pollution”.
( ) “boats that pass quickly run over them”.
Question 6 – In the fragment “[…] the Peixe-Boi Project, which rescues, takes care of injured animals It is reintroduces them into their habitat.”, the underlined word indicates:
( ) sum.
( ) opposition.
( ) alternation.
Question 7 – In “Do you want to know the project?”, the author of the text:
( ) gives an order.
( ) makes an invitation.
( ) issues an alert.
Question 8 – Identify the segment that contains an opinion of the author of the text:
( ) “Manatees are very docile beings that inhabit rivers, estuaries and seas.”
( ) “These animals are very sweet.”
( ) “But unfortunately the lifespan of these docile animals is decreasing [...]”
By Denyse Lage Fonseca
Graduated in Letters and specialist in distance education.
