Read Text 2, “Spiky Surprise,” and answer the questions below (RI.4.10):
Things aren’t always what they seem. In the warm tropical ocean, there are fish of many shapes and sizes. Some are harmless vegetarians, like the parrotfish. Others are dangerous predators, like the tiger shark. But beware— some fish that seem harmless are really quite dangerous!
One such fish swims slowly along. The pufferfish looks innocent as he glides silently through the ocean. He looks like easy prey. His cartoon-like face hides a dangerous secret.
If a tiger shark or barracuda takes him by surprise, the pufferfish will quickly swallow water or air to look like a water balloon. Elastic skin stretches easily, and the pufferfish becomes a ball three times normal size. The pufferfish is covered with lots of sharp spines that you can’t see until he puffs up. When he fills up with water or air, his spines stick straight out to defend him from predators. This makes him very difficult for a predator to swallow. If he is swallowed, he is toxic. He is a spiky surprise!
Today there are no predators in sight. This little pufferfish is safe. He continues to swim along, looking for a tasty crab or sea urchin to eat. The pufferfish may look harmless, but his defenses keep him quite safe.
Jessica Miller for EL Education. Lexile 750.
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Guzik, Stephanie. “The Pufferfish Voucher Library.” Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History. Web. 31 Apr 15.
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