ELA.7.R.C1.4 Spotted Cats

Spotted Cats Several members of the cat family have spotted fur. Do you know the difference between a leopard, a jaguar, and a cheetah? From a distance, they may seem somewhat similar. Examined at closer range, however, they are clearly different cats. They differ in various ways, including where they live, how big they are, how they move and hunt, and how their fur is marked. Of all the big cats in the wild, the true leopard is found across the largest area. Leopards live in much of Asia and Africa. A leopard grows to be from three to six feet long, with an added three feet of tail. Leopard are skilled hunters that can hunt monkeys in trees. They can also lie in wait and pounce on passing prey. When food sources are scarce, they might eat fruit, field mice, and large insects. Leopard spots are not actually solid spots; they are broken circles. The jaguar is native to the Americas. Its natural range is from the southern United States to northern Argentina, with the largest concentration of jaguars being in Brazil and Central America. The beauty and power of the jaguar inspired worship among ancient peoples. It measures between 3 and six feet long without the tail, which adds another 1 ½ to 2 ½ feet. Possessing a large head and body, the jaguar has legs that are shorter and thicker than a leopard’s. Jaguars are excellent climbers and can also swim well. They dine on a variety of land, tree, and water creatures. Their fur can be a vivid yellow color or a rusty shade; their “spots” are called rosettes. Each rosette is large and black, consisting of a middle spot with a circle of spots around it. Most cheetahs live in the wilds of Africa. There are also some in Iran and northwestern Afghanistan. The cheetah’s head is smaller than the leopard’s, and its body is longer. This cat is built for speed. Its legs are much longer than the leopard’s, allowing it to run at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour! This incredible ability helps the cheetahs catch their dinner, which is usually an unfortunate antelope. A cheetah’s spots are simply black spots, not rosettes or circles. Other spotted cats include the smaller ocelot, mainly of Central and South America, and the lynx or bobcat, mainly of North America. What all of these cats have in common is that they are wild, powerful animals of tremendous grace and beauty. 1. All of these are ways to tell the difference between spotted cats except

Spotted Cats Several members of the cat family have spotted fur. Do you know the difference between a leopard, a jaguar, and a cheetah? From a distance, they may seem somewhat similar. Examined at closer range, however, they are clearly different cats. They differ in various ways, including where they live, how big they are, how they move and hunt, and how their fur is marked. Of all the big cats in the wild, the true leopard is found across the largest area. Leopards live in much of Asia and Africa. A leopard grows to be from three to six feet long, with an added three feet of tail. Leopard are skilled hunters that can hunt monkeys in trees. They can also lie in wait and pounce on passing prey. When food sources are scarce, they might eat fruit, field mice, and large insects. Leopard spots are not actually solid spots; they are broken circles. The jaguar is native to the Americas. Its natural range is from the southern United States to northern Argentina, with the largest concentration of jaguars being in Brazil and Central America. The beauty and power of the jaguar inspired worship among ancient peoples. It measures between 3 and six feet long without the tail, which adds another 1 ½ to 2 ½ feet. Possessing a large head and body, the jaguar has legs that are shorter and thicker than a leopard’s. Jaguars are excellent climbers and can also swim well. They dine on a variety of land, tree, and water creatures. Their fur can be a vivid yellow color or a rusty shade; their “spots” are called rosettes. Each rosette is large and black, consisting of a middle spot with a circle of spots around it. Most cheetahs live in the wilds of Africa. There are also some in Iran and northwestern Afghanistan. The cheetah’s head is smaller than the leopard’s, and its body is longer. This cat is built for speed. Its legs are much longer than the leopard’s, allowing it to run at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour! This incredible ability helps the cheetahs catch their dinner, which is usually an unfortunate antelope. A cheetah’s spots are simply black spots, not rosettes or circles. Other spotted cats include the smaller ocelot, mainly of Central and South America, and the lynx or bobcat, mainly of North America. What all of these cats have in common is that they are wild, powerful animals of tremendous grace and beauty. 2. Which words from the passage are used as persuasion in the sense that they express an attitude of sympathy for animals that are prey to big cats?

Spotted Cats Several members of the cat family have spotted fur. Do you know the difference between a leopard, a jaguar, and a cheetah? From a distance, they may seem somewhat similar. Examined at closer range, however, they are clearly different cats. They differ in various ways, including where they live, how big they are, how they move and hunt, and how their fur is marked. Of all the big cats in the wild, the true leopard is found across the largest area. Leopards live in much of Asia and Africa. A leopard grows to be from three to six feet long, with an added three feet of tail. Leopard are skilled hunters that can hunt monkeys in trees. They can also lie in wait and pounce on passing prey. When food sources are scarce, they might eat fruit, field mice, and large insects. Leopard spots are not actually solid spots; they are broken circles. The jaguar is native to the Americas. Its natural range is from the southern United States to northern Argentina, with the largest concentration of jaguars being in Brazil and Central America. The beauty and power of the jaguar inspired worship among ancient peoples. It measures between 3 and six feet long without the tail, which adds another 1 ½ to 2 ½ feet. Possessing a large head and body, the jaguar has legs that are shorter and thicker than a leopard’s. Jaguars are excellent climbers and can also swim well. They dine on a variety of land, tree, and water creatures. Their fur can be a vivid yellow color or a rusty shade; their “spots” are called rosettes. Each rosette is large and black, consisting of a middle spot with a circle of spots around it. Most cheetahs live in the wilds of Africa. There are also some in Iran and northwestern Afghanistan. The cheetah’s head is smaller than the leopard’s, and its body is longer. This cat is built for speed. Its legs are much longer than the leopard’s, allowing it to run at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour! This incredible ability helps the cheetahs catch their dinner, which is usually an unfortunate antelope. A cheetah’s spots are simply black spots, not rosettes or circles. Other spotted cats include the smaller ocelot, mainly of Central and South America, and the lynx or bobcat, mainly of North America. What all of these cats have in common is that they are wild, powerful animals of tremendous grace and beauty. 3. Which of these is the best summary of this passage?