Drawing Inferences in Informational Text

Man has lived on the earth for at least 500,000 years but we have written records of man's history only since 3000 B.C. Animals lived on earth long before man was able to write and record the happenings. These animals are called Prehistoric. What does Prehistoric mean?

Traces of bones, shells, and objects that are not destroyed by time help man know what was on the earth. These traces of animals are called "fossils." What would show man that animals lived long before man came upon the earth?

The Prehistoric amphibian was the first animal to live on land but amphibians could not live completely away from the water. They had to stay by the water. One reason was that their eggs did not have hard shells so they were easily crushed. What kind of eggs were laid in the water by the first land animals.

Prehistoric reptiles were the first animals that could live completely away from the water because they had scaly skin that protected their bodies from drying and they could lay eggs with leathery shells. Which animal was the first to walk on land.

In winter, many animals move from a cold place to a warmer climate. This movement is called migration. Mammals, birds, fish, and insects are animals that migrate. Why do animals move from a cold climate to a warmer climate?

The ostrich is the largest living bird. Its home is in Africa and in Western Asia. Why does the ostrich not need to migrate?

Deer leave their homes in the high mountains when winter come, and the air turns cold. The deer come down into the lowlands looking for food. Why do deer migrate?

Whales swim in large groups called pods. They swim along the coasts of North America to escape the cold winters. Whales like to "talk" to one another, and the older female whales help the babies that are born during the trip. Why do whales swim in large groups?

Insects are among the world's smallest animals but there are more insects in the world than any other animal, and they are more harmful to man than any other group. All adult insects have six legs but not all insects have the same number of wings. Which category could be contrasted?

All adult insect bodies have three parts. The butterfly has a long, thin body and the moth has a large, short, fat body. What is being contrasted?

Insects use the antennae or feelers on the top of their heads to smell. The butterfly's antennae has bare knobs at the ends. The moth antennae look like feathery pointed rabbit ears. What is being contrasted about the insect antennae?