Patient as a Riverbed Rock: teacher key

Alligator Snapping Turtles, grade 5 edition, written for 5th grade. The alligator snapping turtle is the largest freshwater turtle in North America. It lies still, shows a worm-like tongue and waits for fish to come close.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. Where do adult alligator snapping turtles live?
   • In shallow puddles
   • In deep water in large rivers, canals and lakes (answer)
   • In the ocean
2. Where do young alligator snapping turtles live?
   • In smaller streams (answer)
   • In deep lakes
   • In trees
3. How long can one stay under water before coming up for air?
   • 4 to 5 minutes
   • 40 to 50 minutes (answer)
   • 4 to 5 hours
4. What does the turtle show to lure prey?
   • Its claws
   • Its tail
   • The worm-like part of its tongue (answer)
5. How many eggs can a female lay in one clutch?
   • Between 8 and 52 (answer)
   • Exactly 2
   • More than 100
6. Why might the algae on the turtle's back be useful when it lies still on a river bottom?
   • It helps the turtle hide (answer)
   • It makes the turtle heavier
   • It warms the water

Words

• lure: draw close
• prey: food animal
• clutch: egg group
• ridges: raised lines
• algae: tiny water plants