A Most Unusual Bear: teacher key

Giant Pandas, grade 7 edition, written for 7th grade. Scientists argued for more than a century over what a giant panda is. Read about its odd diet, its life alone, its tiny cubs and one puzzle that is still open.

Read the book. Print this page for the key.

Questions and answers

1. What do DNA studies show about giant pandas?
   • They are raccoon relatives
   • They are bears (answer)
   • They are a family of their own
2. What do a giant panda's scent marks tell other pandas?
   • Who has passed by and how long ago (answer)
   • Where bamboo flowers
   • How old the forest is
3. How do scientists explain the panda's black-and-white pattern?
   • They all agree it is for warmth
   • They are not sure, and have two ideas (answer)
   • They know it is to find bamboo
4. A panda cub is 10 weeks old. Which is true of it?
   • Its eyes are open, but it cannot yet move around on its own (answer)
   • Its eyes are closed, but it moves around on its own
   • Its eyes are closed and it cannot move around on its own
5. What does the word digestive describe in this book?
   • How a body breaks down food (answer)
   • How a panda climbs trees
   • How a panda sleeps in winter

Words

• DNA: body's code
• digestive: breaking down food
• provinces: regions of China
• nutrients: food goodness
• scent: smell