A Species With Little Variety: teacher key

Cheetahs, grade 10 edition, written for 10th grade. Researchers use collars, cameras and DNA to study cheetahs. Read what they have found about speed, ranges, calls, cubs and genes.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What did the computer pattern tool do to the Namibian camera-trap count?
   • Raised it from 40 to 43
   • Lowered it from 43 to 40 (answer)
   • Left it at 43
2. What does the 2016 study say about the cheetah's current range?
   • 77 percent lies outside protected areas (answer)
   • All of it is protected
   • None of it is in Africa
3. How long can cheetah calls such as yipps and churrs go on?
   • Up to 20 seconds
   • Up to 20 minutes (answer)
   • Up to 20 hours
4. What does a 95 percent homozygous genome suggest, compared with the domestic cat's 24 percent?
   • Very little genetic variation (answer)
   • Very much genetic variation
   • A much larger body
5. What does the word homozygous describe in this book?
   • Matching gene pairs (answer)
   • A kind of call
   • A cheetah's speed

Words

• collar: neck band
• coalition: male cheetah group
• territory: claimed area
• scat: animal droppings
• homozygous: matching gene pairs