activity of text interpretation, aimed at fifth grade students, about a typical American bird. What bird would that be, huh? Let's find out? So, read the text carefully! Then answer the various interpretative questions proposed!
You can download this Word 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 white-tailed hummingbird (Phaethornis pretrei), like all members of the trochlid family (hummingbirds), is a typical bird of the Americas. This particular species is native to South America, found in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil. Here it occurs from Maranhão to Rio Grande do Sul, Goiás and Mato Grosso.
In Brazil, it is also known as house cleaner, white-tailed hummingbird and yellow-tailed hummingbird. […]
The bird measures 15 cm in length from the beak to the tip of the tail, which makes it one of the largest species of Brazilian hummingbirds. In this respect, it is a strong competitor of the violet hummingbird (coruscans hummingbird).
The plumage is mostly a tan color, with a long tail that ends in a white tip. Hence its name in Portuguese rabo-branco-canelado. The wings and around the eyes are black, as is the upper part of the beak, long and slightly curved downwards, and a red base.
It feeds mainly on nectar and small arthropods. It is a bird of diurnal habits, like all of the family, it is very active, always in search of food. Their accelerated metabolism only finds rest at night, when they practice torpor: a form of rest. […]
According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), it is classified as a “Least Concern” species, with regard to the risk of extinction. Not only does it have a very wide range, it also doesn't seem to suffer a significant population drop. We will see this beautiful bird for some time to come. Good news.
Available in:. (With cuts and adaptations).
Question 1 – Read back:
“This particular species is native to South America, found in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil.”
What species does the text refer to?
Question 2 – In "In Brazil, he is also known as house-cleaner, white-tailed hummingbird and white-tailed-on-yellow hummingbird.”, the highlighted expression indicates:
( ) place.
( ) mode.
( ) time.
Question 3 – The segment “The bird is 15 cm long from beak to tip of tail […]” is:
( ) a narration.
( ) a description.
( ) an argument.
Question 4 – The fragment “[…] long and slightly curved downwards […]” refers to:
( ) to the eye of the white-tailed hummingbird.
( ) to the beak of the white-tailed hummingbird.
( ) to the tail of the white-tailed hummingbird
Question 5 – According to the text, the white-tailed hummingbird feeds:
( ) only nectar and small arthropods.
( ) especially nectar and small arthropods.
( ) occasionally nectar and small arthropods
Question 6 – In the part “It is a bird of diurnal habits, like all of the family […]”, the term “like” was used to express:
( ) a cause.
( ) a comparison.
( ) an example.
Question 7 – In “[…] when they practice torpor: a form of rest.”, the colon:
( ) indicate an explanation of the previous information.
( ) indicate a correction of the previous information.
( ) introduce a conclusion from the previous information.
Question 8 – Identify the snippet that contains an opinion:
( ) “[…] is a strong competitor of the violet hummingbird […]”
( ) “[…] does not seem to suffer a significant population drop.”
( ) "Good news."
By Denyse Lage Fonseca
Graduated in Letters and specialist in distance education.