Life Around the Ice: teacher key

Leopard Seals, grade 7 edition, written for 7th grade. Where does a leopard seal live, how does it swim and hunt, and how does a pup grow up? Follow its year in the ice.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. Where are leopard seals more agile?
   • On ice
   • In the water (answer)
   • In a tree
2. About how fast can a leopard seal swim in short bursts?
   • 4 km/h
   • 14 km/h
   • 40 km/h (answer)
3. What do leopard seals often wait underwater near an ice shelf for?
   • Penguins entering the water (answer)
   • Boats
   • Snow
4. Leopard seals are ambush hunters. Why would waiting near an ice shelf suit that?
   • They wait in one place for food to come to them (answer)
   • They sleep all day
   • They count the ice
5. What does weaned mean in: once weaned, pups start hunting krill?
   • Done nursing (answer)
   • Fully asleep
   • Very cold

Words

• agile: quick and nimble
• ambush: a hidden wait
• weaned: done nursing
• floes: pieces of ice