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Tapirs Animal Themes

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Tapirs
Print Tapirs Reading Comprehension with Sixth Grade Work

Print Tapirs Reading Comprehension


Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 6 to 8
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	7.19

Vocabulary

	challenging words:		hearing, coloring, disruptive, forgoes, heavy-built, striking, destruction, tapir, uncertain, lowland, offspring, skillful, fate, thus, despite, bulky
	content words:		Southeast Asia, Central American, South America, But Malayan

Other Languages
     Spanish: Los Tapires

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Tapirs

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¹     Tapirs look like a cross between pigs and elephants. Indeed, their bulky bodies, short legs, and short tails remind us of pigs. Their flexible, rubbery snouts remind us of an elephant's trunk. But, despite these things in common, tapirs are not related to either pigs or elephants. Their closest relative is the rhinoceros.
 
²     Tapirs are shy, solitary animals. They live in forests and grasslands. They never stray far from water. Whenever they feel threatened, they flee to the nearest river, lake, or swamp for safety. Tapirs measure up to 8 feet long, stand nearly 3 feet tall, and weigh almost 800 pounds. Though heavy-built, tapirs are surprisingly good athletes. They are excellent swimmers and divers, swift runners, and skillful climbers. Tapirs have poor eyesight. They have acute senses of hearing and smell. They use their snouts to locate and pick up food. They eat leaves, fruits, water plants, or other vegetation.
 
³     There are four species of tapirs on Earth. The Malayan tapir lives in Southeast Asia. But the other three -- the lowland or Brazilian tapir, the mountain tapir, and the Baird's or Central American tapir-all live in Central and South America.

Paragraphs 4 to 6:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable

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Animal Themes

Animal Themes

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Endangered Animals Theme Unit

Endangered Animals Theme Unit

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Mammals

Mammals

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More Lessons

Rain Forest

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Animals

Amphibians         Birds         Deserts         Fish         Freshwater         Grasslands         Insects

Invertebrates         Mammals         Oceans         Polar Regions         Rain Forest         Reptiles

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