name: who’s at risk? - ms. feffer 6th and 7th grade...

Permission granted by Science World to reproduce for classroom use only. ©2015 by Scholastic Inc. APRIL 13, 2015

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BIOLOGY: CHART READING

WHO’S AT RISK?In “The Sixth Extinction?” (p. 8), you read about a possible mass extinction happening on Earth today. The pie charts below show the percentage of species currently endangered in different groups of animals. Use the charts and definitions below to answer the questions that follow.

WORDS TO KNOW:Extinct: No individuals left in the wildThreatened: At high to extremely high risk of becoming extinct in the wild

Near-Threatened: Close to being threatened or likely to become threatened in the near futureLow Risk: Not currently at risk of becoming extinctData Deficient: Not enough data to determine status

SoURCE: IUCN REd LIST 2012

NoTE: Percentage does not total 100 because of rounding.

questions1. What percentage of mammals is currently threatened?

2. What does it mean if a species is classified as near-threatened?

3. Which group of animals has the highest percentage of threatened species?

4. In which category of the pie chart do birds and amphibians have the same percentage?

5. Why do you think that the percentage of data-deficient species is higher for amphibians than for other animal groups?

All Mammals

Threatened21%

Near-Threatened

6%

Low Risk57%

DataDeficient

15%

Extinct1%

BirdsThreatened

13%

Near-Threatened

9%

Low Risk76%

Data Deficient

1%Extinct

1% Amphibians

Threatened30%

Near-Threatened

6%

Low Risk38%

DataDeficient

26%

Extinct1%

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE

DIRECTIONS: Use the clues below to fill in the crossword puzzle. All answers can be found in this issue.


across3. Acronym for “yellow dragon disease” 7. A popular yellow fruit that is threatened by a fungus 11. The name of a new cloud formation (two words) 12. designed to move easily through wind 13. The vascular system that transports sugars and other materials throughout a plant 14. Name given to the first five mass extinctions (two words)

DOWN1. Cereal leaf beetle larvae are covered by this for protection (two words). 2. A sea creature with no brain, bones, heart, or lungs 3. The likely cause of a Sixth Extinction 4. This airborne virus recently caused an outbreak of disease originating at disneyland in California. 5. A new wind-powered source of electricity (two words) 6. The number of stages of a vertical jump 8. Fish farming is called _______. 9. This type of beam has been used to reveal ink letters inside damaged ancient scrolls in Italy. 10. Atoms of an element with the same number of protons but with a different number of neutrons

1

7 8

11

12

13

14

4 5

2

3

6

9

10


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ENGINEERING: READING COMPREHENSION

BUZZ OFF!In “The Sixth Extinction?” (p. 8), you learned that humans may be causing a mass extinction of organisms on Earth. one animal threatened because of humans is the African elephant. Read the passage below to learn how scientists have designed a new fence to try to keep elephants out of harm’s way. Then answer the questions that follow.

BEE BARRIERAfrican elephants face many human threats. Poachers kill the animals for their valuable ivory

tusks. Farmers also sometimes slay the giants because they trample and feast on the crops the farmers need to survive.

Scientists from the Save the Elephants organization have been trying to design inexpensive fences that will keep elephants off farmland. Most designs haven’t been able to restrain the world’s largest land animal.

observations that elephants avoid eating from trees that house a beehive sparked a new idea. Could bees keep the animals away? Experiments showed that elephants sounded alarm calls and ran way when scientists played recorded beehive sounds.

The Save the Elephants organization helped design a fence made with local materials that includes man-made beehives every 10 meters (33 feet). The barrier is designed so that if an elephant pushes on it, the hives swing and the bees begin to buzz and fly around. Trials have shown that the barriers keep elephants out more than 80 percent of the time.

Another advantage: Farmers can collect honey from the hives and sell it for extra income.

questions1. Why do poachers kill elephants?A to prevent the animals from trampling farmlandB to collect ivoryC to reduce populations that are too largeD to protect people

2. Which of the following is a synonym for restrain? A hold backB killC protectD attract

3. What initially inspired the idea for a beehive fence?A Scientists discovered that elephants are allergic to bees.B Elephants run away when they are stung by bees.C Scientists observed that bee sounds attract elephants.D Elephants don’t eat from trees that hold beehives.

4. Which of the following is NOT true about the beehive fence?A It can provide extra income for farmers.B Beehives are placed on it every 10 meters.C Elephants break through it 80 percent of the time.D It is made from local materials.

5. What are two design requirements the scientists had for the elephant barrier?


CHEMISTRY: CHART READING

ENERGY COMPARISONIn “Wind Catcher” (p. 12), you read about a new type of wind turbine. The chart below lists some of the pros and cons of five different sources of energy, including wind. Examine the chart. Then answer the questions below.

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TYPE OF ENERGY HYDROPOWER WIND GEOTHERMAL SOLAR FOSSIL FUELS

Description

Generators placed in areas where water flows capture kinetic energy from the moving water.

Wind turbines are large fans atop towers. Wind turns the blades and powers generators to create electricity.

Energy is obtained from heat found deep inside Earth.

Solar panels generate electricity by capturing energy from the sun’s heat and light.

Power plants burn fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas to produce electricity.

Renewable? Yes Yes Yes Yes No

Pros

Very reliable; the amount of energy captured is adjustable.

Wind will not run out; doesn’t produce pollution.

Stable source of energy; environmentally friendly.

Sunlight will not run out; quiet; can be installed on individual homes as well as in larger arrays.

Fuels contain a lot of energy; very cost-effective.

Cons

Expensive; unreliable during droughts; can disrupt natural aquatic ecosystems.

Can hurt wildlife such as birds and bats; noisy; can’t produce energy when there isn’t enough wind.

In rare cases, drilling for geothermal energy may cause earthquakes; only available in some areas.

At night and on cloudy days, little energy is captured; installation can be expensive; not every location gets enough sunlight.

Releases air pollution and contributes to climate change; fossil fuels will run out.

questions1. Which power source relies on flowing water?

2. Which energy source can pose a danger to birds?

3. Washington is the cloudiest state in the United States. Which type of renewable energy might be inefficient there? Explain.

4. What is a potential negative environmental impact of installing a hydropower plant?

5. What are two reasons for replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources?

reset answers

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1. What is the best definition for aerodynamic? A a lightweight materialB designed to prevent liquid from collectingC designed to move easily through windD able to fly

2. Of the types of clouds listed below, which cloud is located at the highest altitude?A altocummulusB cirrostratusC nimbostratusD stratocumulus

3. What is the name of the newly discovered cloud formation?A altocumulus stratiformisB cirrocumulus cirromutatusC undulatus asperatusD stratocumulus stratiformis

4. Exercising which muscle group could help an ath-lete improve the transfer of force from the downward movement to the upward movement of a vertical jump?A abdominal musclesB lower leg muscles C upper leg musclesD shoulder muscles

5. Which choice best describes how X-ray phase-contrast tomography works to detect writing within damaged scrolls found in Pomeii and Herculaneum, Italy?A It detects slight differences between the darker letters

and the lighter papyrus paper. B When the X-ray beam passes through a scroll’s raised

ink letters, it reveals the letters’ shapes. C It can translate Latin to English. D It scans words and then reads them aloud.

6. Measles is caused by ________.A a highly contagious, airborne bacteriumB a highly contagious, airborne virusC a bacterium spread by contact with bodily fluidsD a virus spread only by contact with bodily fluids

7. The measles vaccine is ________.A 97 percent effective and most effective when everyone

is vaccinated B a cause of autismC unsafeD untested

8. Earth Day was first celebrated in ________.A 1742B 1901C 1970D 1999

9. What is the best definition for aquaculture?A a synchronized-swimming competition B catching fishC eating fishD farming fish

10. Altocumulus clouds are mostly composed of ________.A airB ice crystalsC steamD water droplets

SCIENCE NEWSDIRECTIONS: Read the “Science News” section on pages 2–7.

Then test your knowledge, filling in the letters next to the correct answers below.

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING



CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING, page 1

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THE SIXTH EXTINCTION? Page 8DIRECTIONS: Fill in the blanks in the following sentences. Use the words in the word bank below.

1. The _______________ is one species that has been declared extinct in the wild.

2. A disease that kills frogs has spread across _______________ in recent years.

3. Nearly 40 percent of the world’s frogs and toads are _______________.

4. Scientists have dubbed the recent phenomenon of many species dying out as the _______________.

5. Scientists believe that _______________ are to blame for the recent mass extinction.

6. _______________ disappeared during the last mass extinction.

7. one way humans transport species around Earth is in the _______________ of supertankers.

8. Scientists determined that frogs in Central America were being killed off by _______________.

9. The _____________________________ was passed in 1973 to protect organisms at risk of becoming extinct.

10. There are only 200 _______________ left in the wild.

WIND CATCHER, Page 12DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions in complete sentences.

1. What are two disadvantages of burning fossil fuels to generate electricity? _______________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What is a renewable resource? _______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. How do wind turbines produce electricity? _____________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why is it beneficial for turbines to be located high in the sky? ___________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What is the purpose of the ground station under the floating turbine? ____________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

asteroidsballastdinosaursendangered

Endangered Species Actextinctfrogsfuel

fungal diseasegolden froghumansPanama

pollutionSixth Extinctionwhooping cranes

name: who’s at risk? - ms. feffer 6th and 7th grade...

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