Activity of text interpretation, aimed at students in the sixth year of elementary school, about the giant armadillo. Millions of years ago, even before the human being appeared, when the Earth was inhabited by giant animals, the giant armadillo was already present on the planet. Let's get to know this armadillo better? So, read the text carefully! Then answer the various interpretative questions proposed!
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SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
Read:
Millions of years ago, even before the human being appeared, when the Earth was inhabited by giant animals, the giant armadillo was already present on the planet. Over time, practically all the megafauna became extinct. But can you believe that this armadillo is still around here?!
He is huge! And that explains some of their common names: giant armadillo and cart armadillo. Like other armadillos, the canasta has a carapace on its back. It is dark, has only a light edge, and is formed by a series of plates that allow the animal to move.
The legs, tail and head are protected by hard plates as well. This body covering, which looks more like armor, protects the giant armadillo from predator attacks, as its pink and wrinkled skin is very delicate.
The giant armadillo has strong, curved and sharp claws on its front legs. But the third toe claw is the one that stands out the most: it measures 15 centimeters and is considered the largest among all animals today – even bigger than the polar bear's! The superclaw is used to open termite mounds, as termites are the favorite food of this species.
To dig the holes where it lives, the giant armadillo also uses its claws. He digs all kinds of holes, and they all have a large entrance, about 35 centimeters in diameter. No other animal makes holes like that. Once the armadillo vacates its burrows, they are used as shelters by smaller animals.
Each adult giant armadillo is relatively distant from another of the same species, which makes it difficult for researchers to observe them. With the data collected so far, it is known that a female can dominate an area of up to 2,500 hectares (an area equivalent to 2,500 football fields!). A female does not enter the space dominated by another. Only males pay a visit from time to time.
Giant armadillos are rare and are threatened with extinction, mainly due to the destruction of their habitat. Termite poisoning is another problem: it kills canastras, other smaller armadillos and also anteaters. Preserving this animal means ensuring that it continues to play its role in the ecosystem, such as control ant and termite populations and also build shelters and refuges for others species.
Arnaud Desbiez and Liana John. “Ciência Hoje das Crianças” magazine. Edition 281. Available in: .
Question 1 - Mark, in the fragment below, the text keyword:
"Millions of years ago, even before humans appeared, when the Earth was inhabited by giant animals, the giant armadillo was already present on the planet."
Question 2 - In the segment "It is dark, has only a light edge, and is formed by a series of plates that allow the animal to move.", the authors of the text describe:
A:
Question 3 - In the passage “[…] it is very delicate.”, the term “very” intensifies a characteristic:
( ) from the giant armadillo skin.
( ) from the tail of the giant armadillo.
( ) of the giant armadillo's head.
Question 4 – In “The superclaw is used to open termite mounds, since the favorite food of this species is termites.”, the highlighted fact is:
( ) the cause of the above.
( ) the purpose of the above.
( ) the consequence of the above.
Question 5 - In the period “Only the males pay a visit, On occasion.”, the underlined expression could be replaced by:
( ) “suddenly”.
( ) "constantly".
( ) “sporadically”.
Question 6 – Identify the fact that, according to the authors of the text, makes it difficult for researchers to observe the giant armadillo:
( ) “Each adult giant armadillo is relatively distant from another of the same species”.
( ) “[…] a female can dominate an area of up to 2,500 hectares […]”
( ) "A female does not enter the space dominated by another."
Question 7 – According to the text, what most threatens the extinction of giant armadillos is:
( ) “the attack of predators”.
( ) “the destruction of its habitat”.
( ) “the poisoning of termite mounds”.
Per Denyse Lage Fonseca
Graduated in Languages and specialist in distance education.
