Name: ____________________________________ Date: ____________ CHEETAH RI.3.1 Cheetahs are the fastest land animals on earth.

A cheetah has slim long, muscular legs and a slender body. Its head is small and rounded. A cheetah also has a flexible spine, deep chest and special pads on its feet for traction. A long tail helps the cheetah balance when its making quick turns as it hunts. Cheetahs run short distances for 2 ! " seconds at speeds up to # miles per hour. Cheetahs are the smallest member of the big cat family usually weighing $$ ! $% pounds. A distinct marking sets them apart from other cats. A long black line runs from the inside of each eye down to the mouth. &cientists describe it as a 'tear drop( marking and belie)e its to protect the cheetahs eyes from the harsh sunlight and helps them see long distances. Cheetahs dont roar like other big cats. *hey do ha)e a )ery loud purr when they groom themsel)es. *hey also whine, growl, hiss and make a birdlike chirping sound. *he noises are )ery distinct and different from noises other big cats make. Cheetahs cant climb trees, like other big cats because they ha)e blunt claws. Cheetahs used to li)e all o)er Africa and Asia, but today theyre only found in parts of eastern, central and southwestern Africa and small sections of Iran. *hey li)e in the biome known as the sa)annah where they rely on tall grasses for camouflage when they hunt. +ecause they ha)e poor night )ision, cheetahs generally hunt in the late morning or early e)ening unlike other big cats. Cheetahs primarily hunt *homson ga,elles, impalas, and baby hoofed animals like wildebeest cal)es, but will catch other smaller animals like hares. A cheetah will get as close as it can to its prey, then with a burst of speed, it will try to outrun it. -nce the cheetah catches up with the animal, it knocks it to the ground with its paw and suffocates it with a bite to the neck. A cheetah eats quickly because other predators like hyenas, )ultures and .ackals, will aggressi)ely try to steal what they catch. Cheetahs are solitary animals. /emale cheetahs raise their cubs alone. *here are often 2 !% cubs in a litter and mothers often mo)e their cubs to new hiding places e)ery few days. At fi)e weeks old, the cubs follow their mother and learn how to eat from her kills. -ften mothers bring back small animals to their cubs to teach them how to hunt and catch prey. *he cheetah population has declined o)er the last $ years. In $0 , there were approximately $ , cheetah in Africa and Asia. *oday its estimated there are only 0, to $2, cheetahs left on earth. *he future of the cheetah is uncertain.

1ame2 3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 4ate2 33333333333333333333333 Cheetah RI.3.1 $. 5hat does the word 'aggressi)ely( mean in paragraph $"6 A. fiercely +. carefully C. instincti)ely 4. peacefully 2. 5hat does the word 'solitary( mean in paragraph #. A. friendly +. quick C. alone 4. shy 7. *he word 'camouflage( in paragraph % means2 A. food +. prey C. noises 4. disguise

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5hich of these statements is an opinion. Circle one. A. Cheetahs are solitary animals +. Cheetahs are beautiful animals. C. Cheetahs run fast for short distances 4. Cheetah mothers teach their cubs to hunt.

8. Circle one. *he author wrote this article to2 A. 9xplain how the cheetah raises its young. +. 4escribe how the cheetah hunts C. :ersuade readers to learn more about cheetahs. 4. Inform readers that cheetahs are good hunters. ". Circle the letter of the correct answer. *he answer is found in paragraph 33333. According to the article, a cheetahs tail is A. short +. long C. furry 4. wide

#. 5hy do cheetahs sneak up on their prey6 *he answer is found in paragraph 33333. A. *hey dont like the heat. +. *hey dont like to run. C. *hey only see well during the day. 4. *hey can only run short distances at a high rate of speed. Answer ;ey2 <I.7.$ $. A 2. + 7. 4 %. + 8. C ". + #. 4