Here Be Dragons! Stage 6 Comprehension Pack PDF

STAGE 6 Unit focus: Scaly Beasts Text focus: Information Text Here Be Dragons! Dragons have long lived in the minds of fantasy writers and filmmakers. As far back as the Anci...

STAGE 6 Unit focus: Scaly Beasts Text focus: Information Text Here Be Dragons! Dragons have long lived in the minds of fantasy writers and filmmakers. As far back as the Ancient Greeks, dragons appeared in myths and legends. Nowadays, most dragons are nothing more than that; however, there is a dragon that still roams the Earth. Weighing more than 300 pounds and reaching lengths of nearly 10 feet, Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on the planet. They may appear to plod about on stocky, bowed legs, but they can reach speeds of 12 mph and are fearsome predators. The islands where they live are a harsh, rocky habitat, but the dragons have adapted well to live amongst the Sunda Islands of Indonesia. One of the islands is called Komodo Island, hence the name. These islands are tropical but don’t have as much rainfall as the rest of Indonesia. In the coolest months of July and August, the temperature still reaches 30°C. Komodo dragons are carnivores, but they are also lazy. Even though they have been known to travel several miles each day, most prefer to stick close to home. Not only that, they would much sooner scavenge carrion (animals that are already dead) than hunt and kill a live animal. Instead of going out to hunt prey, they often wait along trails for the animals to wander along. One of the strangest things about the way Komodo dragons eat is, perhaps, their bite. They have strong jaws and sharp teeth, but when they bite their prey, they deliver a venom that prevents the victim’s blood from clo ng. This means that the prey’s wound doesn’t stop bleeding, and their body goes into shock. This is when the dragons prefer to attack and finish off their meal. Even if their prey runs away, the wounds are nearly always fatal, so the dragon will calmly follow the stricken animal, waiting for it to finally die. If the way Komodo dragons eat isn’t strange enough, the way they reproduce certainly is. Like a handful of other lizard species, Komodo dragons can breed in a process called parthenogenesis. This method doesn’t require a male dragon and means that females can breed even when there aren’t any males around. One drawback to this is that the offspring created during parthenogenesis all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com is always male (after all, they only use it when there aren’t enough males around). This means that lots of the males now are related to many of the females, and this is a threat to their survival as a species as the offspring are often more prone to mutations and genetic problems. Not only that, but humans also pose a threat to the dragons’ habitat. Deforestation and burning the land for other uses, along with poaching, means that their habitat is dramatically reducing. To help prevent further damage, the Indonesian government set up a national park on Komodo Island in 1980. This is a popular tourist attraction, and the money raised helps to protect the dragons and other species on the island from extinction. VOCABULARY FOCUS 1. Which word in the first paragraph means “move about or travel”? 2. What impression does the word “plod” give you about Komodo dragons? 3. Write a definition for the word “hence”. 4. Which word describes a way for animals to reproduce without males? 5. What does the word “carnivore” mean about Komodo dragons? VIPERS QUESTIONS R What temperature is it on Komodo Island in the coldest months? I What evidence is there to support the idea that Komodo dragons are lazy? S Why is the way Komodo dragons eat strange? S What strange thing about the Komodo dragons is also threatening their survival? E Why is the word parthenogenesis in italics? all resources ©2021 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com