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Animal Themes
Mammals

Foxes

Foxes
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 4 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   8.18

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    socialize, vulnerable, intelligent, mating, highly, lifetime, hence, relationship, reunite, farewell, groundhogs, faithful, breed, eaters, easily, flesh
     content words:    Sahara Desert

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Foxes   
1     Foxes are members of the dog family. They have triangular ears, elongated and pointed muzzles, short legs, thick fur, and bushy tails. Highly adaptive, foxes can survive in a variety of habitats, and some of these environments – such as the Sahara Desert and the Arctic – are famous for their harsh climates. Before the European settlers came to Australia in the 19th century, Australia and Antarctica were the only two continents that did not have foxes. Today, foxes thrive in Australia, leaving Antarctica the only place on Earth that they have yet to set their feet on!
 
2     Foxes have an acute sense of smell and hearing. Hence, they are superb hunters. Sniffing around, foxes can easily uncover birds' or other animals' nests, above or below the ground. Even when their prey tries to remain silent and still, it may give its position away by a slight movement – such as turning its head – that is nearly inaudible. Foxes are not picky eaters, so they devour whatever they can find. Their diet includes mice, rabbits, chicken or other birds, eggs, fruits, earthworms, insects, or even decaying animal flesh!
 
3     Famous for their boldness, foxes have a love-and-hate relationship with farmers around the world. On one hand, foxes kill mice and other rodents that are harmful to crops. On the other hand, foxes often sneak inside a farmhouse to attack farm animals and steal their eggs. So, you see, farmers cannot afford to get rid of foxes even though these intelligent, sly animals are constantly their source of headaches.

Paragraphs 4 to 5:
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