Sample Different groups of plants (grades 5-7) Worksheet
Reading Comprehension Worksheets
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Different groups of plants
By Ekaterina Zhdanova-Redman 		  
1     Scientists believe that there are more than 300,000 species of plants. The variety of plants on our planet is amazing. Giant sequoia trees are plants just as much as strawberries or tiny mosses. Plantae is the scientific name for the plant kingdom. It consists of many different divisions and groups of plants. Scientists group plants according to their common characteristics.
 
2     Scientists group plants by their similar parts, for example, plants' roots. Just think of the huge roots of some trees. Sometimes they can grow through the pavement on walkways. Compare that to the roots of beets or yard grass. They do look very different, don't they?
 
3     There are two major kinds of root systems. The root system that looks like one major root--like the one the beet plant has--is called a taproot. A taproot grows down and forms many small secondary roots. Plants with taproot systems use their roots to store food. You can see these plants and roots in many gardens and grocery stores--carrots, beets, radishes, and turnips. Some trees also have taproot systems. Pine trees can grow their taproots as far down as 6 meters (about 20 feet)!
 
4     The second major kind of root system is called fibrous roots. They are made up of large numbers of roots that are more or less equal in size. Instead of growing deep down, they usually spread over large areas. Most grasses and some trees, like maple and beech trees, have fibrous root systems.

Paragraphs 5 to 12:
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