Non-fiction: Blue Bloods of the Sea Blue Bloods of the Sea Some people are afraid of horseshoe crabs. Their hard shells, pointy tails, and six pairs of legs make them scary-looking animals. But horseshoe crabs actually help people. Their special blue blood is used by doctors to help fight diseases. 1 Now some scientists say the number of horseshoe crabs is falling, and they need our help. Blue Bloods of the Sea Scientists believe the horseshoe crab population 2 around the world is falling - for many reasons. Fishermen catch horseshoe crabs and use them as bait 3. Pollution is hurting some of the areas in North America, from Maine to Mexico, where horseshoe crabs live. Seabirds hunt the crabs and eat the eggs that female horseshoe crabs lay. In the United States, some states are passing laws that say how many crabs can be caught each year. The U.S. government wants to make Delaware Bay, where many horseshoe crabs live, a protected area. Delaware Bay is near Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Crabs Help People Horseshoe crabs help doctors fight diseases. Doctors use horseshoe crab blood to test medicines for harmful germs. Crab blood clots, or thickens, when it comes in contact with germs that can cause disease. If the crab blood does not clot, the medicine is free of bacteria, 4 and people can safely use it. Doctors use a needle to remove some of the special blue blood from a crab. Blood is taken from about 300,000 horseshoe crabs each year. Scientists say that no horseshoe crabs are killed when the blood is taken. The horseshoe crabs are later returned to their habitat or area where they live. 1 disease: illness 2 population: a group of life forms living in an area 3 bait: material such as food used to attract and trap animals 4 bacteria: microorganisms (single-cell living matter) that can cause disease Article: Copyright 2007 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.
Non-fiction: Blue Bloods of the Sea Horseshoe Crab Fast Facts Time Will Tell Efforts are being made to help protect horseshoe crabs. Scientists warn it will take 20 to 30 years to see if the horseshoe crab population has increased. Article: Copyright 2007 Weekly Reader Corporation. All rights reserved. Weekly Reader is a registered trademark of Weekly Reader Corporation. Used by permission.
Name: Date: 1. According to the passage, the following facts are true about horseshoe crabs EXCEPT A their population is falling B they have special blue blood C they have four pairs of legs D they have pointy tails 2. The problem for horseshoe crabs is that their numbers are falling. Which solution addresses this problem as explained in the article? A If the crab blood does not clot, the medicine is free of bacteria and people can use it. B Some states are passing laws saying how many crabs can be caught. C Doctors use their special blue blood to help fight diseases. D Fisherman will limit the use of the horseshoe crab as bait. 3. Which of the following conclusions about horseshoe crabs is supported by the passage? A Horseshoe crabs like to bite people. B Horseshoe crabs have blue blood. C Horseshoe crabs have lots of bacteria. D Horseshoe crabs have very soft shells. 4. Read these sentences from the passage: In the United States, some states are passing laws that say how many crabs can be caught each year. The U.S. government wants to make Delaware Bay, where many horseshoe crabs live, a protected area. As used in the passage what does protected mean? A battered B safe from danger C scary-looking D clot free 5. Which statement supports the main idea of the passage? A Horseshoe crabs have blue blood. B Fishermen use horseshoe crabs for bait. C No horseshoe crabs are killed when their blood is taken. D The number of horseshoe crabs is falling. 1
6. Describe the reasons that the horseshoe crab population around the world is falling. 7. Why are horseshoe crabs important? Give specific examples from the article that support your answer. 8. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence., doctors test new medicines with horseshoe crab blood, then doctors know if the medicine is safe for people to use. A In conclusion B Thus C Such as D First 2
9. Answer the following questions based on the sentence below. Doctors test medicines to find out if they contain germs by using horseshoe crab blood. Who? doctors (do) What? (Why)? How? 10. Vocabulary Word: contact: to meet, communicate with, and/or touch something. Use the vocabulary word in a sentence: 3