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The Digestive System Digestive System

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The Digestive System
Print The Digestive System Reading Comprehension


Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 7 to 8
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	8.49

Vocabulary

challenging words:

alimentary, useable, roughage, gall, bile, gastric, regulate, various, further, rectum, automatic, fuel, action, repair, wherever, continue

Other Languages
     French: Le Système Digestif
     Spanish: El sistema digestivo
     Italian: L'apparato digerente
     German: Das Verdauungssystem

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The Digestive System By Sharon Fabian

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¹     The digestive system is the group of organs that breaks down food so that the body can use it. Food must be broken down all the way to its individual molecules to be useable. This involves a number of steps, and different organs to do different parts of the job.
 
²     Once food is broken down it provides energy for many essential body functions. It provides the energy for all of our physical activity such as walking, playing sports, working, and talking. It also provides the energy for other, more automatic, activities including breathing and thinking. Food provides the energy for the nerves, muscles, and organs, including the heart, to continue working. It provides the fuel to build and repair body tissues. Food energy is needed to regulate body organs and systems. It is the fuel that provides heat to keep our body temperature at a steady 98.6 degrees.
 
³     The digestive process begins in the mouth. There, the teeth and the muscles of the mouth begin the digestive process by breaking down the food into smaller bits. Saliva, produced by the salivary glands, begins to digest the food before it is even swallowed. Saliva and the other chemicals produced along the way to speed the digestive process are called digestive enzymes.

Paragraphs 4 to 8:
For the complete story with questions: click here for printable

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Digestive System

Digestive System

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The Human Body

The Human Body

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Health

Alcohol         Bicycle Safety         Circulatory System         Digestive System         Disabilities         Drugs         Excretory System         Food Pyramid         Health Professionals         Healthy Life         Hygiene         Illnesses         Medical Tools

Miscellaneous Health Topics         Muscular System         My Plate         Nervous System         Nutrition         Reproductive System         Respiratory System         Skeletal System         Teeth         The Five Senses         The Human Body         Tobacco

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