Cross-Curricular Reading Comprehension Cross-Curricular Reading Comprehension Worksheets:Worksheets: D-5 of 36 D-5 of 36

Rainforest Ecosystems Rainforest Ecosystems

Cross-Curricular Focus; Life Cross-Curricular Focus: LifeSciences Science Rainforest are found the equator, the center imaginary Rainforestecosystems ecosystems have more near rain than other areas. Tropical line of latitude runs east and west around Earth. Tropical rainforests rainforests arethat found near the equator, the imaginary line of latitude that runs have more rain than other areas. The weather is warm and humid all year east and west around the widest part of Earth. The weather is warm and long. There is lots ofnear sunlight. humid all year long the equator. There is lots of sunlight. Living things are abundant in the rainforests. There are thousands Living of things are in thekinds rainforests. There areneeds thousands of species animals and even more of plants. Their for of species of and animals, andare even kinds plants. Their needs for sun,The water sun, water warmth allmore met by theof conditions of the rainforest. and warmth are all met by the conditions of the rainforest. The excellent excellent conditions allow them to thrive. There is an amazing amount and conditions allowin them . There is an amazing amount and variety variety of plants thatto one location. This variety makes the rainforests aof plants in one location, making rainforests a major source of Earth's overall major source of Earths overall oxygen supply. oxygen supply. Tropical rainforests have layers of life. The uppermost layer is called the canopy. Very mature, tall treesof stretch out their branches and leaves, Tropical rainforests have layers life. The uppermost layer is called the nearly blocking out the sun in some places. Many animalsand live leaves, high in this Very mature, tall trees stretch out their branches nearlyleafy blocking out the sun insome places. Many animals live high in this green, habitat. You can nd monkeys, tree frogs and many different green, leafy habitat. You can find monkeys, tree frogs, and many different species of birds. species of the birds. Below is the is a second called the understory. Below treetops a treetops second layer, calledlayer, the understory. The The understory is shaded by the canopy. Not as much sunlight reaches the understory is shaded by the canopy. Not as much sunlight reaches the plants there. Bushes and growing trees make up the understory. It is home to plants in the understory. Bushes and growing trees make up the understory. reptiles, and reptiles small climbing animals. The animals. third layer, the forest floor, is Itbirds, is home to birds, and small climbing busy with life. Vines, shrubs, mosses, ferns, flowers, and large predator The third layer, the forest oor, is busy with life. Vines, shrubs, mosses, animals, such as jaguars, can be found there. Small animals burrow into the ferns, owers and large predator animals, such as jaguars, can be found ground and live in bushes. Leaf-cutter ants and other insects busily hunt for there. Small animals burrow into the ground and live in bushes. Leaf-cutter food and water. ants and other insects busily hunt for food and water. Rainforestscontain contain some Earths greatest biological treasures. Rainforests some ofof Earths greatest biological treasures. Many medicines are made from plants found there. have used them to Many medicines are made from plants found Scientists there. Scientists have used make some promising drugs for treating and AIDS. Food sources are them to make some promising drugs for cancer treating cancer and AIDS. Food very rich, too. There over 3,000 also grow the sources are very rich,are too. There arefruits overalone. 3,000 Rainforests fruits alone. Rainforests vegetables and grains that make up most of the up worlds diet. You can find also grow the vegetables and grains that make mostdaily of the worlds daily corn, potatoes, rice, and squash there. Spices like ginger, cinnamon, and diet. You can nd corn, potatoes, rice and squash there. Spices like ginger, chocolate grow alongside grow coffee and a variety of nuts. rainforests produce cinnamon, and chocolate alongside coffee and aThe variety of nuts. The all this in addition to providing oxygen for Earth. It is clear that the rainforests rainforests produce all this in addition to providing oxygen for Earth. The have more are value than can be to measured. rainforests very valuable the planet.

Name:__________________________________ Name: ______________________________________ Answer the following questions based on the reading passage. Dont forget to go back to the passage whenever necessary to nd or 1) Some people want to cut down the rainforests to use the land for buildings and businesses. What would you say What is the canopy of the rainforest? to 1) them? _______________________________________________

conrm your answers.

______________________________________

_______________________________________________ ______________________________________ _______________________________________________ 2) Why might a scientist be interested in the 2) rainforests? Why might a scientist be interested in the rainforests? ____________________________

______________________________________ _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________ or why not? 3) rainforest? Do you think Why, you could survive alone in a rainforest? Why, or why not? ______________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Describe the conditions that a rainforest a 4) 4) Describe the conditions that make a make rainforest a good place for place many living things. good for many living things. _______________________________________________

3) Do you think you could survive alone in a

______________________________________

______________________________________

_______________________________________________ ______________________________________ 5) Why do you think the weather is warmer at the equator than other areas?are found near what imaginary line? 5) in Rainforests _______________________________________________

______________________________________
_______________________________________________

______________________________________

Copyright 2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com

Cross-Curricular Reading Comprehension Cross-Curricular Reading Comprehension Worksheets:Worksheets: D-5 of 36 D-5 of 36

Rainforest Ecosystems Rainforest Ecosystems

Cross-Curricular Focus; Life Cross-Curricular Focus: LifeSciences Science Rainforest are found the equator, the center imaginary Rainforestecosystems ecosystems have more near rain than other areas. Tropical line of latitude runs east and west around Earth. Tropical rainforests rainforests arethat found near the equator, the imaginary line of latitude that runs have more rain than other areas. The weather is warm and humid all year east and west around the widest part of Earth. The weather is warm and long. There is lots ofnear sunlight. humid all year long the equator. There is lots of sunlight. Living things are abundant in the rainforests. There are thousands Living of things are in thekinds rainforests. There areneeds thousands of species animals and even more of plants. Their for of species of and animals, andare even kinds plants. Their needs for sun,The water sun, water warmth allmore met by theof conditions of the rainforest. and warmth are all met by the conditions of the rainforest. The excellent excellent conditions allow them to thrive. There is an amazing amount and conditions allowin them . There is an amazing amount and variety variety of plants thatto one location. This variety makes the rainforests aof plants in one location, making rainforests a major source of Earth's overall major source of Earths overall oxygen supply. oxygen supply. Tropical rainforests have layers of life. The uppermost layer is called the canopy. Very mature, tall treesof stretch out their branches and leaves, Tropical rainforests have layers life. The uppermost layer is called the nearly blocking out the sun in some places. Many animalsand live leaves, high in this Very mature, tall trees stretch out their branches nearlyleafy blocking out the sun insome places. Many animals live high in this green, habitat. You can nd monkeys, tree frogs and many different green, leafy habitat. You can find monkeys, tree frogs, and many different species of birds. species of the birds. Below is the is a second called the understory. Below treetops a treetops second layer, calledlayer, the understory. The The understory is shaded by the canopy. Not as much sunlight reaches the understory is shaded by the canopy. Not as much sunlight reaches the plants there. Bushes and growing trees make up the understory. It is home to plants in the understory. Bushes and growing trees make up the understory. reptiles, and reptiles small climbing animals. The animals. third layer, the forest floor, is Itbirds, is home to birds, and small climbing busy with life. Vines, shrubs, mosses, ferns, flowers, and large predator The third layer, the forest oor, is busy with life. Vines, shrubs, mosses, animals, such as jaguars, can be found there. Small animals burrow into the ferns, owers and large predator animals, such as jaguars, can be found ground and live in bushes. Leaf-cutter ants and other insects busily hunt for there. Small animals burrow into the ground and live in bushes. Leaf-cutter food and water. ants and other insects busily hunt for food and water. Rainforestscontain contain some Earths greatest biological treasures. Rainforests some ofof Earths greatest biological treasures. Many medicines are made from plants found there. have used them to Many medicines are made from plants found Scientists there. Scientists have used make some promising drugs for treating and AIDS. Food sources are them to make some promising drugs for cancer treating cancer and AIDS. Food very rich, too. There over 3,000 also grow the sources are very rich,are too. There arefruits overalone. 3,000 Rainforests fruits alone. Rainforests vegetables and grains that make up most of the up worlds diet. You can find also grow the vegetables and grains that make mostdaily of the worlds daily corn, potatoes, rice, and squash there. Spices like ginger, cinnamon, and diet. You can nd corn, potatoes, rice and squash there. Spices like ginger, chocolate grow alongside grow coffee and a variety of nuts. rainforests produce cinnamon, and chocolate alongside coffee and aThe variety of nuts. The all this in addition to providing oxygen for Earth. It is clear that the rainforests rainforests produce all this in addition to providing oxygen for Earth. The have more are value than can be to measured. rainforests very valuable the planet.

Key Name:__________________________________ Name: ______________________________________ Answer the following questions based on the reading passage. Dont forget to go back to the passage whenever necessary to nd or
1) Some people want to cut down the rainforests to use Actual wording may vary. the land for buildings and businesses. What would you say What is the canopy of the rainforest? to 1) them? _______________________________________________ the top layer

conrm your answers.

______________________________________

_______________________________________________ ______________________________________ _______________________________________________ 2) Why might a scientist be interested in the because of the plants, 2) rainforests? Why might a scientist be interested in the rainforests? ____________________________

______________________________________ _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________ or why not? 3) rainforest? Do you think Why, you could survive alone in a rainforest? Why, or why not? students choice ______________________________________ _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ Describe the conditions that a rainforest a 4) 4) Describe the conditions that make a make rainforest a good place for place many living things. good for many living things. _______________________________________________ It is warm with a lot of sunlight and rain.

animals and possible medicines

3) Do you think you could survive alone in a

______________________________________

______________________________________

_______________________________________________ ______________________________________ 5) Why do you think the weather is warmer at the equator than other areas?are found near what imaginary line? 5) in Rainforests _______________________________________________

the equator ______________________________________

______________________________________

_______________________________________________

Copyright 2012 K12Reader - http://www.k12reader.com