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Cheetahs

Cheetahs
Reading Level
     edHelper's suggested reading level:   grades 4 to 7
     Flesch-Kincaid grade level:   8.22

Vocabulary
     challenging words:    cheetah, gazelle, hyenas, non-retractable, short-distance, teardrop, mating, definitely, marathon, cheetahs, hence, launching, spiked, running, chasing, easily
     content words:    Middle East

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Cheetahs   
1     If we hold a short-distance race for all animals, the cheetah definitely wins the gold medal! With a top speed of 70 miles per hour, cheetahs deserve to be crowned with the title "the world's fastest short-distance runners." If we hold a marathon, however, animals such as gazelles or horses can defeat cheetahs easily. Why is that? Well, while cheetahs are running, their body temperatures rise quickly. About 20 seconds after the race starts, cheetahs become too overheated to continue the race, and they must stop.
 
2     Since cheetahs cannot run for long, they must get very close to their prey before launching a surprise attack. Hence, if a cheetah is chasing after a gazelle, the gazelle is likely to escape if it can outrun the cheetah for more than 20 seconds. As cheetahs stalk their prey - herds of gazelles, impalas, or antelopes - they look for the weak ones whose speeds are impaired. They do so to improve their chances of hunting down an animal. Once they successfully bring down their victim, they must catch their breath first. Then, they have to eat really fast before other predators, such as hyenas and lions, come and steal their food.
 
3     With teardrop lines extending from each of their eyes to their mouths, cheetahs belong to the family of cats. What make cheetahs so different from their other family members are their flexible spines and non-retractable claws. In fact, these two special features are the secrets behind their high speed. When cheetahs run, they stretch out and close up their spines like a spring, and they get a firm grip on the ground like wearing spiked running shoes.

Paragraphs 4 to 5:
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