Table of Contents

Tropical Rainforest Reading Passage

Pages 2 - 4

Scaffolded Questions
Pages 5 - 7

On-Level Questions
Pages 8 - 10

Extension Activity
Pages 11 - 13

Answer Key
Pages 14 - 16
© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
 Tropical Rainforest
Reading Comprehension

The reading passage introduces students to

tropical rainforests. It gives a description of the
rainforest, discusses rainforest plant and animal
adaptations, and explains what threatens to
destroy rainforests.

This is a longer reading passage, particularly for

younger grades. Support students as needed.

The pictures included in this reading passage are

in color, but you can print them in gray scale to
save ink.

Students will still be able to get the information

necessary if you print the pictures in gray scale.

However, it might benefit students to see the

picture titled “Camouflage in the Rainforest” in
color so that they can better understand how
each of the animals is camouflaged.

© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.

 The Tropical Rainforest
The rainforest is the most fascinating and exciting biome in the world. It is
home to a huge variety of plants and animals, many of which are found ONLY in
the rainforest. There are so many species of plants and animals living in the
rainforest that scientists say we haven’t discovered them all yet!
Rainforest Description
All tropical rainforests are warm and wet. Rainforests are warm because
they are only found near the equator where it is warm all year long. Rainforests
are wet because they receive at least 75 inches of rain every year. However,
many rainforests receive more than 100 inches of rain annually! These warm and
wet conditions are ideal for plants and animals, which is why such a huge variety
of life can be found in tropical rainforests.
Tropical rainforests are divided into 4
layers:
Emergent Layer: This is the top layer of
the rainforest, where you will find only the
tops of the tallest trees. This layer gets
the most sunlight.
Canopy Layer: This is next layer of the
rainforest, where you will find the tops of
most trees. The tops of these trees form
a canopy, or covering, over the rainforest
below. This layer receives plenty of
sunlight.
Understory: This layer is under the
treetops but above the ground. The
canopy above blocks out a lot of sunlight,
so plants and animals in the understory
have adapted to living with little sunlight.
Forest Floor: This layer is very dark because it receives the least amount of
sunlight. There are very few plants that can grow with such limited sunlight, but
you will find leaves, branches, and other fallen objects.
The most important layer of the rainforest is the canopy. There is an abundance
of food and plants here, so this is the busiest part of the rainforest. Some
animals stay in the canopy all year long, never going to the ground.
Rainforest Plant and Animal Adaptations
Every year, new plant and animal species are being discovered. The
rainforest is home to all sorts of mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects, including:
© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
elephants, tapirs, monkeys, sloths, chimpanzees, jaguars, anteaters, bats,
parrots, toucans, macaws, butterflies, beetles, ants, and many more.
Rainforest animals have some interesting adaptations. For example, many
of the animals are arboreal animals, or animals that spend most of their lives in
trees. Since the canopy offers the best protection and the most food, many
animals have adaptations that help them survive in trees. Howler monkeys have
a special type of tail that that can be used like an extra arm when swinging from
tree to tree. Some animals, such as orangutans, have longer arms that help
them hold onto branches. Camouflage is also an
Camouflage in the Rainforest important adaptation to
many rainforest animals,
helping them hide from
predators that might attack.
Other animals, instead of
having camouflage to hide
themselves, are brightly
leaf-tailed gecko caterpillar
colored as a warning to
potential predators.
Rainforest plants are
very diverse as well. There
are many different species
of trees that grow in the
rainforest including: kapok
glass wing butterfly green python trees, rubber trees, cacao
trees, teak trees, and many more. Because the forest floor has very little
sunlight, rainforests also contain many epiphytes – plants that have adapted to
grow on branches, trunks, and leaves of trees instead of on the ground. Some
types of epiphytes are orchids, mosses, ferns, and bromeliads.

Destruction of the Rainforest

The rainforest is disappearing at an alarming rate. Most of the
destruction is caused by humans. When humans cut down trees in the
rainforest, animals have fewer places to hide from their enemies, fewer places
to live, and less food to eat. Some rainforest species are now extinct because
of rainforest trees being cut down.
Humans cut down trees for a variety of reasons. We need the wood to
for furniture, flooring, construction, firewood, and to make paper. Sometimes
parts of the rainforest get cut down in order to build roads. Other people cut
down trees in order to clear the land for farms or land for grazing. As humans,
we need to find other ways to supply our needs instead of cutting down
rainforests.

© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.

 Scaffolded Questions
The questions in this section are
scaffolded to help you differentiate. This
section will help support your lower level
students or ELL learners.

There are two levels of scaffolding:

1. The question tells what section the

student will be able to find the answer
in.

2. Sentence starters are provided to help

students when answering the questions.

Other than the two levels of scaffolding

listed above, these questions are the
same as the on-level questions.

The answer key on pages 14 – 16 applies

to this section of questions as well as the
on-level section of questions.

© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.

Name:____________________________________________ Date:_______________________________

The Tropical Rainforest:

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Reread the section titled “Rainforest Description.” Why are rainforests warm and wet?
Rainforests are warm because _____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________. Rainforests are wet because
_____________________________________________________________________________________.

2. Reread the section titled “Rainforest Description.” Which layer of the rainforest does
the author believe is most important, and why?
The _____________________________ layer of the rainforest is most important because
_____________________________________________________________________________________.

3. Reread the section titled “Rainforest Description” and look at the photograph in that
section. Which layer of the rainforest does the photograph show? How do you know?
The photograph shows the __________________________ layer of the rainforest. I
know this because _________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.

4. Reread the section titled “Rainforest Plant and Animal Adaptations.” What are arboreal
animals?
Arboreal animals are _______________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.

5. Look at the photographs titled “Camouflage in the Rainforest.” Choose 2 of the animals,
and explain how their camouflage could help protect them.
The _______________________________________________’s camouflage could protect it by
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
The _______________________________________________’s camouflage could protect it by
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
 The Tropical Rainforest:
Reading Comprehension Questions

6. Look at the photographs titled “Camouflage in the Rainforest.” Which animal has the
best camouflage? Why?
The ______________________________________________ has the best camouflage because
_____________________________________________________________________________________.

7. Reread the section titled “Rainforest Plant and Animal Adaptations.” What are
epiphytes?
Epiphytes are ______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.

8. Reread the section titled “Rainforest Plant and Animal Adaptations.” How are the
howler monkey and orangutans alike?
The howler monkey and orangutans are alike because _____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.

9. Reread the section titled “Destruction of the Rainforest.” How does cutting down
rainforest trees cause problems for rainforest animals?
When rainforest trees are cut down, ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.

10. Reread the section titled “Destruction of the Rainforest.” List 3 different reasons that
humans cut down rainforest trees.
Humans cut down rainforest trees because:
• _________________________________________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________________________________________

© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.

 On-Level Questions

The questions in this section are more

straightforward then the questions in the
Scaffolded Questions section. These
questions and answers do not have any
scaffolding to support students.

Students are given a question and

expected to write a short answer in a
complete sentence.

The answer key on pages 14 – 16 applies

to this section of questions as well as the
Scaffolded Questions section.

© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.

Name:____________________________________________ Date:_______________________________

The Tropical Rainforest:

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Why are rainforests warm and wet?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. Which layer of the rainforest does the author believe is the most important, and why?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Look at the first photograph. Which layer of the rainforest does the photograph show?
How do you know?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

4. What are arboreal animals?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. Look at the photographs titled “Camouflage in the Rainforest.” Choose 2 of the animals,
and explain how their camouflage could help protect them.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
 The Tropical Rainforest:
Reading Comprehension Questions

6. Look at the photographs titled “Camouflage in the Rainforest.” Which animal has the
best camouflage? Why?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. What are epiphytes?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

8. How are the howler monkey and orangutans alike?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. How does cutting down rainforest trees cause problems for rainforest animals?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

10. List 3 different reasons that humans cut down rainforest trees.
Humans cut down rainforest trees because:
• _________________________________________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________________________________________
• _________________________________________________________________________________
© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
 Extension Activity
This extension activity can be completed
individually or in small groups.

After students read “The Tropical

Rainforest” Reading Comprehension,
have students create a poster using the
guidelines on page 12.

Students can use the Poster Page

provided on page 13 to create the poster,
or you can provide students with poster
board or butcher paper if they need
something larger.

Poster Guidelines and Grading Rubric

Page 12

Poster Page
Page13
© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
Name:____________________________________________ Date:_______________________________

The Tropical Rainforest:

Extension Activity

Use the reading passage to create a poster that tells about the rainforest. Be sure to
include:
• A title
• An illustration that includes all 4 layers of the rainforest
• 2 examples of rainforest plant or animal adaptations
• 2 examples of ways humans are harming the rainforest

Grading Rubric
3 points 2 points 1 point

The student included The student included

The student included all of
most of the required few or none of the
the required elements.
Content elements. The student required elements. The
The student only included
included some unrelated student included mostly
on –topic information.
information. unrelated information.

The student showed

The student showed a
some understanding of The student showed
thorough understanding
rainforests. Some of the very limited
Accuracy of rainforests. All of the
information regarding understanding of
information regarding
rainforests was rainforests.
rainforests was accurate.
inaccurate.

The poster is exceptionally The poster is acceptable

colorful and neat. The in terms of color, The poster looks messy
Neatness student used their best neatness, and and rushed.
handwriting. handwriting.

There are many errors in

There are very few errors
in spelling, capitalization,
Conventions
punctuation, and
grammar.
spelling, capitalization,
There are several errors
punctuation, and
in spelling, capitalization,
grammar. Because of
punctuation, or grammar.
these errors, the essay is
very difficult to read.

Total Points out of 12:

© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
 Answer Key

This answer key applies to both the

Scaffolded Questions (pages 5 – 7)
and the On-Level Questions (pages
8 – 10).

Some of the questions encourage

higher level thinking and do not
have one correct answer. If that is
the case, it has been noted that
“Answers Will Vary.” When grading
these questions, make sure
students defend their thinking in a
logical way.

© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.

Name:____________________________________________ Date:_______________________________

The Tropical Rainforest:

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Why are rainforests warm and wet?

Rainforests are warm because they are near the equator. Rainforests are wet
_____________________________________________________________________________________
because they get at least 75 inches of rain a year.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

2. Which layer of the rainforest does the author believe is the most important, and why?
The author believes the most important layer of the rainforest is the canopy
_____________________________________________________________________________________
because of the abundance or food and plants there.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Look at the first photograph. Which layer of the rainforest does the photograph show?
How do you know?
The photograph shows the emergent layer of the rainforest because it is
_____________________________________________________________________________________
showing the tops of the trees. (Students could also say the canopy layer of the
_____________________________________________________________________________________
rainforest if they defend it appropriately.)

4. What are arboreal animals?

Arboreal animals are animals that spend most of their lives in trees.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

5. Look at the photographs titled “Camouflage in the Rainforest.” Choose 2 of the animals,
and explain how their camouflage could help protect them.
Answers will vary. Make sure students explain their reasoning.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.
 The Tropical Rainforest:
Reading Comprehension Questions

6. Look at the photographs titled “Camouflage in the Rainforest.” Which animal has the
best camouflage? Why?
Answers will vary. Make sure students defend their reasoning.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

7. What are epiphytes?

Epiphytes are plants that grow on trunks, branches, and leaves instead of on
_____________________________________________________________________________________
the ground.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

8. How are the howler monkey and orangutans alike?

Howler monkeys and orangutans are alike because they both have adaptations
_____________________________________________________________________________________
that help them survive and swing in trees.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

9. How does cutting down rainforest trees cause problems for rainforest animals?
When rainforest trees are cut down, animals have fewer places to hide from their
_____________________________________________________________________________________
enemies, fewer places to live, and less food to eat.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

10. List 3 different reasons that humans cut down rainforest trees.
Humans cut down rainforest trees because:
We need the wood to make things like paper and furniture.
• _________________________________________________________________________________
• We need to build roads.
_________________________________________________________________________________
• We need the land for grazing or farmland.
_________________________________________________________________________________
© 2016 Kalena Baker: Teaching Made Practical. All rights reserved.