activity of text interpretation, aimed at students in the fifth year of elementary school, about the decoada. Its about a natural phenomenon typical of the Pantanal. Shall we better understand this phenomenon? So, read the text carefully! Then answer the various interpretive questions proposed!
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SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
Read:
Decoada is a typical natural phenomenon of the Pantanal. It occurs when there is an excess of organic matter, which decomposes in the water with floods and is submerged in streams and rivers.
Decoada means “deterioration of water quality” and usually happens at the beginning of the flooding process in the Pantanal. As the plains are filled with dead vegetation, the amount of oxygen, a gas essential to life, is reduced. On the other hand, there is an increase in carbon dioxide in the water, resulting from the decomposition of plants.
These two associated factors – reduced oxygen and increased carbon dioxide – can lead to the death of fish and other organisms, such as algae, bacteria, protozoa, and invertebrates, run out of oxygen under water. Therefore, during this period, it is common to see fish rising to the surface of the water to try to breathe.
The decoada phenomenon may seem cruel to fish, but it has its compensation for other animals. The great white heron, for example, which feeds on fish, has the chance to catch fish more easily. Keeping its eyes alert and quick movements of its beak in the water, it catches large amounts of fish and ensures its survival.
The abundance of food during this period is a natural compensation for this heron that spends a lot of energy and a long time to fish. Let's think about it this way: you sit at the table and there's a plate of steak, salad, rice and beans that will be savored forkful after forkful. Delicious huh? Now, imagine if, instead of just sitting and eating, you had to harvest vegetables, as well as rice and beans, in addition to slaughtering the ox? Tired, huh? Well, that's more or less what happens to the heron, which spends a lot of energy fishing for a good part of the year.
The decoada is a well-deserved refreshment for the great white heron, isn't it?!
Alessandra Bertassoni.
Magazine “Science Today for Children”. Edition 226.
Available in: .
Question 1 - In “Occurs when there is an excess of organic matter, which decomposes in the water with floods and is submerged in streams and rivers.”, the author refers:
Question 2 – Watch:
“As the plains get filled with dead vegetation, the amount of oxygen, a gas essential to life, is reduced.”
The highlighted fact is:
( ) the cause of the other.
( ) the purpose of the other.
( ) the consequence of the other.
Question 3 – Identify the factors resulting from the decoada that, according to the text, “can lead to the death of fish and other organisms”:
Question 4 – In the excerpt “The phenomenon of decoada may seem cruel to fish, but there is their compensation for other animals there.”, the underlined word could be replaced by:
( ) "because".
( ) "although".
( ) "therefore".
Question 5 – In the part “The great white heron, for example, that feeds on fish, has the chance to catch more easily.”, the underlined term indicates:
( ) the means of fishing for the great white heron in the period of the decoada.
( ) the way of fishing of the great white heron in the period of the decoada.
( ) the fishing time of the great white heron in the decoada period.
Question 6 - In the passage “Keeping the eyes attentive and quick movements of the beak in the water, Is it over there catches large amounts of fish and guarantees its survival.”, the underlined word:
( ) resumes the great white heron.
( ) presents the great white heron.
( ) characterizes the great white heron.
Question 7 - Tick the segment that contains a comment by the author:
( ) “[…] there is an increase in carbon dioxide in the water, as a result of the decomposition of plants.”
( ) “[…] it is common to see fish rising to the surface of the water to try to breathe.”
( ) “Decoada is a well-deserved refreshment for the great white heron, isn’t it?!”
By Denyse Lage Fonseca
Graduated in Letters and specialist in distance education.