MODEL READING SILENTLY Before you read "Animal Olympics," explain to

After reading "Animal Olympics," use the following questions to assess listening
comprehension.

Start a web to build concepts and vocabulary related to this week's lesson and
the unit theme.

   Every four years, top athletes compete in the Summer Olympics. But guess
what? In all sorts of sports, animals are the real winners!

   A sailfish is the fastest creature in the seas over short distances. It can
reach speeds of up to 68 miles (109 km) per hour—as fast as cars whizzing
along some highways. In fact, a sailfish makes human swimmers look
pathetic. The fastest Olympic swimmers plug along at only about 5 miles
(8 km) an hour.

   How does the sailfish do it? It has a streamlined shape, like a torpedo. It
tucks its long "sail" into a slot in its back. And, with just a few flicks of its stiff, sickleshaped tail, the fish propels itself speedily through the water.

   What bird dives from the greatest height into water? Several share the
honors, including gannets and brown pelicans. From 50 feet (15 m) or more
over the water, these birds plunge headfirst to catch fish. They have especially
strong skulls and air sacs, which work like air bags, in their breasts. So the
birds aren't hurt when they hit the water. How do humans compare with these
champs? Olympic high-divers drop from a measly 33 feet (10 m) above
the water.

   A gray whale would win the prize for distance swimming. These fantastic
animals swim an amazing 10,000 (16,000 km) or more miles a year. They
migrate from their breeding grounds off Mexico to their feeding areas off
Alaska and Siberia, and then back again.

   In the air, the long-distance winner is the arctic tern. Many of these birds fly
more than 20,000 miles (32,000 km) a year. They migrate from the Arctic to
Antarctica—and back—catching summertime in both places.

   Human weightlifters can lift more than three times their body weight while
standing in one spot. But rhinoceros beetles can lift about 30 times their own
weight and walk at a normal pace at the same time! A person with that kind
of muscle-power could walk around carrying a pickup truck!

   But what about elephants? Surely, they're very strong. An Asian elephant,
using just its trunk, can lift more total weight than any other creature—a ton
or more. But compared to its size, a ton isn't that much—less than half the
elephant's weight.

   Lots of animals could be winners in this category! For example,
tree squirrels are super acrobats. They can leap through the treetops or
run along thin branches, using their tails to balance them.

by Elizabeth Schleichert