The Man-Eating Dra ' Imagine this scene. • Luckily for you, you're not really ^ You may be relieved to learn that sitting on that log. But a real person your chances of running into a You're walking through once did sit on a similar log. He was a Komodo dragon are pretty slim. You Swiss tourist visiting the island nation can find these at some large the Indonesian jungle of . He grew tired of hiking zoos. Other than in these zoos, they with some friends. After and sent his friends on ahead. Later, live on only a few small islands in when the tourist didn't show up, his Indonesia. They get their name from a while, you become friends went looking for him. All they one of these islands, Komodo. If you tired and decide to rest found was his camera case and a should happen to visit these islands, bloody shirt. Everything else had been take care. Heed the warning signs a bit. You sit down on a log, telling eaten by a hungry Komodo dragon. along jungle paths. Pay attention your friends to keep going. You'll catch ' Then there is the story of a father when the signs say Dangerous Area or up with them later. As you begin to and his two adult sons. They went WATCH OUT: Komodo Crossing, into the Indonesian jungle to cut otherwise, you might end up in the relax, you suddenly realize that you're some wood. The tropical heat tired opening paragraph of a story like this. not alone. Your blood runs cold. When them out. And the work was tedious. The Komodo dragon certainly looks you turn around, you find yourself So the men were not particularly alert. the part of a killer. It has scaly skin, a They didn't notice the Komodo face to face with a 10-foot Komodo yellow forked tongue, sharp teeth, and dragon sneaking up on them until it curved claws. It's also huge! Most dragon rapidly flicking its tongue in was too late. The leapt at the Komodos are about seven feet long. A and out. Say hello to the world's three men. They jumped out of the few grow to be 10 feet. Many weigh largest lizard. But do it fast. This way and began to run for their lives. 200 pounds. Some are even bigger But one of the sons got caught in a than that. The biggest ones probably dragon isn't here to talk. low-hanging vine. In a flash, the come close to 500 pounds. It's hard to Komodo dragon seized him and bit off be precise, though—no one has a huge chunk of his back. The father volunteered to weigh them! Here, four full-grown Komodo dragons fight and the other son raced back and beat Komodo dragons are predators. over a chunk of goat meat. Given the the lizard off. But it was too late. The chance, any of the four would take all the They feed off the flesh of the son who had been attacked bled to meat for itself And if there were not meat they kill. Often they attack small available, it would attack its fellows. death within an hour. creatures such as rats, goats, hens. monkeys, and pigs. But sometimes they these creatures give birth. A helpless 100 pounds, you would have to eat move up to larger prey. One of their mother and her newborn babies make a 320 quarter-pound burgers to match top targets is deer. A few Komodos have great meal. that record. killed animals as large as a horse or a 1^ Big Komodo dragons are also And Komodo dragons don't waste . scavengers. They will eat the meat of anything. They will swallow a goat's 7 Komodos have a simple system for animals they didn't kill. And it's not head, including its horns and teeth. killing big animals. It's the same just meat they crave. Komodos They will eat a porcupine, quills and method that was used on the have been found digging in cemeteries. all. The hooves of a horse are no Indonesian woodcutter. The Komodo They were trying to get at human problem, either. It's hard to think of lunges at its prey with lightning speed. corpses that had been buried there. any animal that is a more efficient It takes a huge bite out of the victim's 12 Clearly, Komodos will eat just about eater. stomach or backside. Then it waits any kind of flesh they can find. They The habits of a Komodo dragon patiently while the poor victim bleeds don't care if it is fresh or rotten. In fact, might seem disgusting to you. You to death. the smellier and more rotten the meat, would not be alone in that opinion. 8 Komodo dragons always hunt alone. the better. A strong just makes the But the Komodo dragon is a marvel They don't seem to trust each other. food easier to find. A Komodo sniffs of . It knows what it wants, and And they have reason to be suspicious. out rotting meat with its tongue. This it knows how to get it. All you have If a Komodo does not find anything tongue can detect a meal from as far to do is be sure that what it wants else to eat, it is perfectly willing to feast away as five miles. The tongue also lets isn't you! on its fellow Komodos. you know if the lizard considers you a 9 Komodo dragons are skillful killers. good meal. The faster a Komodo flicks They are not fast enough, however, to its tongue in and out, the tastier it run down most of their prey. They can thinks you will be. run up to 11 miles an hour, but only 13 Once a Komodo dragon finds food, If you have been timed while reading for a short stretch. So they ambush it isn't shy about eating it. It will chow this article, enter your reading time their prey from behind. At times they down its meal as fast as possible. There below. Then turn to the Words-per- Minute Table on page 101 and look up also take to the water in search of food. is a reason for the bad manners. Every your reading speed (words per minute). Komodos are fine swimmers. They have Komodo wants to prevent other Enter your reading speed on the graph no trouble diving or swimming Komodos from stealing its goat or pig on page 102, through strong ocean currents. or deer. An average Komodo can bite 10 Komodo dragons are terribly smart. off the hindquarter of a goat in one Reading Time: Lesson 8 They plan some of their meals far in gulp. A 110-pound Komodo once ate a advance. They do this by keeping 68-pound pig in 17 minutes. Komodos Minutes Seconds watch on pregnant goats and horses. can eat up to 80 percent of their body Komodos like to be around just after weight in one meal. If you weighed I READING COMPREHENSION

Finding tlie Main idea B Recalling Facts

One statement below expresses the main idea of the article. One How well do you remember the facts in the article? Put an X statement is too general, or too broad. The other statement in the box next to the answer that correctly completes each explains only part of the article; it is too narrow. Label the statement about the article. statements using the following key: 1. Most Komodo dragons are about • a. 7 feet long. M—Main Idea B—Too Broad N—Too Narrow • b. 20 feet long. • c. 2 feet long. 1. Other than in large zoos, the only place where you can see Komodo dragons is on a few small islands in 2. Komodo dragons' favorite foods do not include Indonesia. n a. pigs. 2. Anyone traveling through the jungles of Komodo • b. rodents. Island has a very good reason to stay alert—the • c. bananas. Komodo dragon. 3. Komodos have been known to keep watch on pregnant 3. Beware of the Komodo dragon, a powerful lizard animals so that they can that is happy to eat the flesh of monkeys, rats, and • a. eat the newborn babies and their mothers. human beings. • b. protect the mother and baby. • c. keep track of the animals in their area.

4. Komodo dragons are attracted by Score 15 points for a correct M answer. • a. bright lights. Score 5 points for each correct B or N answer. • b. loud noises. • c. strong . Total Score: Finding the Main Idea 5. After a Komodo dragon takes a big bite out of its prey, it • a. carries the animal back home. • b. waits for the animal to bleed to death. • c. leaves the scene and comes back much later.

Score 5 points for each correct answer.

Total Score: Recalling Facts READING COMPREHENSION

Making Inferences Using Words Precisely

When you combine your own experience with information from a Each numbered sentence below contains an underlined word text to draw a conclusion that is not directly stated in that text, or phrase from the article. Following the sentence are three you are making an inference. Below are five statements that may definitions. One definition is closest to the meaning of the or may not be inferences based on information in the article. underlined word. One definition is opposite or nearly opposite. Label the statements using the following key: Label those two definitions using the following key; do not label the remaining definition. C—Correct Inference F—Faulty Inference C—Closest O—Opposite or Nearly Opposite 1. The Komodo dragon is used to hot and humid weather. 1. And the work was tedious.

2. Komodo dragons are ruthless killers that never show a. exciting and fast-moving pity on their victims, no matter how young or b. backbreaking helpless they are. c. tiresome, dull, and slow-moving 3. If you are on Komodo Island and want to attract a Komodo dragon, put out some rotten meat and 2. You may be relieved to learn that your chances of running into then wait. a Komodo dragon are pretty slim.

4. The natives of Komodo Island make good use of the a. set free from worry or pain body parts that a Komodo dragon leaves behind after it has eaten its prey. b. worried

5. A good way to escape from a Komodo dragon is by c. excited jumping into a river or the ocean. 3. Heed the warning signs along jungle paths.

a. read

Score 5 points for each correct answer. b. pay attention to

c. ignore Total Score: Making Inferences 4. But sometimes they move up to larger prey.

a. lizards

b. animals who kill other animals for food

c. animals who are killed by another animal for food Author's Approach 5. So they ambush their prey from behind. Put an X in the box next to the correct answer.

a. defend 1. What is the authors' purpose in writing 'The Man-Eating Komodo Dragon"? b. attack without warning • a. to encourage the reader to travel to Indonesia c. imitate • b. to inform the reader about a dangerous and powerful lizard • c. to emphasize the similarities between Komodo dragons and other lizards Score 3 points for each correct C answer. 2. Which of the following statements from the article best Score 2 points for each correct O answer. describes the way Komodo dragons treat each other? • a. If a Komodo does not find anything else to eat, it is Total Score: Using Words Precisely perfectly willing to feast on its fellow Komodos. • b. Komodo dragons are terribly smart. They plan some of their meals far in advance. • c. Komodos have been found digging in cemeteries.

3. Judging by statements from the article "The Man-Eating Komodo Dragon," you can conclude that the authors want the reader to think that Enter the four total scores in the spaces below, and add them • a. anyone who is killed by a Komodo dragon is simply careless. together to find your Reading Comprehension Score. Then record • b. Komodo dragons should all be killed because they are too your score on the graph on page 103. dangerous to humans. • c. people should stay far away from wild Komodo dragons.

Score Question Type Lesson 8

Finding the Main Idea Number of correct answers

Recalling Facts Record your personal assessment of your work on the Critical Thinking Chart on page 104. Making Inferences

Using Words Precisely

Reading Comprehension Score Summarizing and Parapiirasing 3. Read the statement from the article below. Then read the Follow the directions provided for question 1. Put an X in the box paraphrase of that statement. Choose the reason that best tells next to the correct answer for the other questions. why the paraphrase does not say the same thing as the 1. Reread paragraph 7 in the article. Below, write a summary of statement. the paragraph in no more than 25 words. Statement: The Komodo uses its tongue to sniff out rotting meat from as far away as five miles.

Paraphrase: The Komodo can smell meat from a distance of five miles.

• a. Paraphrase says too much.

• b. Paraphrase doesn't say enough.

• c. Paraphrase doesn't agree with the statement. Reread your summary and decide whether it covers the important ideas in the paragraph. Next, decide how to shorten the summary to 15 words or less without leaving out any essential information. Write this summary below. Number of correct answers

Record your personal assessment of your work on the Critical Thinking Chart on page 104.

2. Choose the best one-sentence paraphrase for the following sentence from the article: "The faster a Komodo flicks its Critical Thinlcing tongue in and out, the tastier it thinks you will be." Follow the directions provided for questions 1, 3, and 4. Put an X • a. If the Komodo dragon has enjoyed a meal it has eaten, it in the box next to the correct answer for the other questions. flicks its tongue in and out quickly. 1. For each statement below, write 0 if it expresses an opinion or • b. Before a meal, the Komodo dragon always flicks its tongue write F if it expresses a fact. in and out quickly. a. A 110-pound Komodo once ate a 68-pound pig in

• c. When a Komodo dragon flicks its tongue in and out 17 minutes. quickly near its victim, it is showing that it thinks the victim will be delicious. b. But the Komodo dragon is a marvel of nature. c. It [the Komodo dragon] has scaly skin, a yellow forked tongue, sharp teeth, and curved claws. 2. From what the article told about what happened to the Swiss 5. What did you have to do to answer question 4? tourist, you can predict that • a. find a cause (why something happened) • a. tourists who have heard the story will watch out for • b. find a comparison (how things are the same) Komodo dragons. n c. find an opinion (what someone thinks about something) • b. no one else will ever walk through the Indonesian jungle again.

• c. no one will visit Indonesia on vacation anymore. Number of correct answers

3. Choose from the letters below to correctly complete the Record your personal assessment of your work on the following statement. Write the letters on the lines. Critical Thinking Chart on page 104. On the positive side, , but on the negative side

a. the Komodo dragon can grow to be 10 feet long Personal Response b. the Komodo dragon is well suited to its home What was most surprising or interesting to you about this article?

c. the Komodo dragon sometimes hunts humans

4. Reread paragraph 13. Then choose from the letters below to correctly complete the following statement. Write the letters on the lines.

According to paragraph 13, because

a. Komodos want to prevent other Komodos from eating their prey b. all 0-pound Komodo once ate a 68-pound pig Self-Assessment c. Komodo dragons eat quickly When reading the article, I was having trouble with