A Body Built for Speed: teacher key

Cheetahs, grade 5 edition, written for 5th grade. A cheetah's spine, tail, claws and nostrils all go with running. Read about how it hunts, what it sounds like and where it lives.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What does a flexible spine help a cheetah do?
   • Take long strides (answer)
   • Climb trees
   • Roar loudly
2. What do a cheetah's large nostrils let it do?
   • Hear far away
   • Take in more air while it runs (answer)
   • Hide in grass
3. About how many of a cheetah's chases end with a catch?
   • Almost all
   • Very few
   • About half (answer)
4. Which of these is something a cheetah cannot do?
   • Roar like a lion (answer)
   • Purr
   • Chirp
5. What does the word nostrils mean in this book?
   • Nose holes (answer)
   • Long claws
   • Black spots

Words

• spine: backbone
• stride: one long step
• nostrils: nose holes
• cleats: grip bumps
• mantle: long fur
• chirp: a short call