Not a True Cobra: teacher key

King Cobras, grade 8 edition, written for 8th grade. The king cobra is not a true cobra at all. See how scientists named it, how they follow it with radio transmitters and why a mother stays by her nest.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What does genetic work suggest about the king cobra?
   • It is closer to mambas than to the Naja cobras (answer)
   • It is a kind of python
   • It is the same as the Indian cobra
2. How did scientists in Thailand find each tracked snake?
   • By digging up nests
   • By triangulation of radio signals (answer)
   • By counting eggs
3. Why does a female king cobra stay by her nest?
   • To hunt snakes
   • To build a second nest
   • Scientists are not sure (answer)
4. The king cobra's diet is described as specialized. What does that suggest?
   • It eats almost anything
   • It mostly eats one main kind of food (answer)
   • It never eats eggs
5. What does chamber mean in this book?
   • A snake's hood
   • A kind of leaf
   • A small room (answer)

Words

• triangulation: locating by angles
• Naja: true cobras
• specialized: narrow, focused
• chamber: small room
• neurotoxins: nerve poisons