How Fast Is a Mako?: teacher key

Mako Sharks, grade 4 edition, written for 4th grade. Find out what is known about how fast a mako swims, how its body works and how it lives.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

Why is a mako's top speed hard to state?
- Makos never swim
- Few direct speed measurements have been reported (answer)
- It has no tail
What does a mako's tail do?
- Helps it see
- Keeps it warm
- Does almost all the work of pushing it through water (answer)
What holds heat in a mako's body?
- A web of blood vessels (answer)
- Thick fur
- A shell
About how long can a big shortfin mako grow?
- 40 metres
- 4 metres (answer)
- 40 centimetres
How long does a pup grow inside its mother?
- 15 to 18 days
- 15 to 18 years
- 15 to 18 months (answer)
Why are makos a vital part of ocean life?
- They are top predators (answer)
- They are tiny
- They live on land