Pythons
When people hear the word
python, they immediately
conjure up images of snakes
from horror movies.
The python, however, is
much more than a snake to
be used in fiction; the
constrictor is, in fact, a
fascinating reptile.
Its size alone makes it an
amazing creature.
The infamous reptile can grow as long as
thirty feet.
The only other snake that equals the python
is the South American green anaconda.
These larger pythons can be naturally found
in both Africa and Asia.
Australia has a much
smaller type of
python that only
grows to be about two
feet long. Of course,
this type is rarely the
star of a horror movie!
Pythons generally eat small mammals
and lizards.
The larger snakes can, however, kill
larger animals, such as pigs.
These snakes do not kill their prey
with venom.
Instead, they squeeze their prey to
death.
The constrictor wraps its long body
around an animal and then tightens
its body until the animal can no
longer breathe and blood can no
longer flow.
To consume the animal, the
python swallows its prey
whole. Because the animal is
consumed in one bite,
digestion generally takes
several days.
Any animal coming after the
python has just eaten is
generally safe because the
creature simply doesn’t have
room after consuming a large
meal.
Pythons are reptiles that lay eggs to produce their
young.
The females keep the eggs warm by wrapping their
bodies around them until the eggs hatch.
The amount of eggs varies. However, some pythons
can have as many as one hundred eggs!
Discussion
How python
eat other
animals?
Although the amount of eggs a python can
lay varies, how many eggs can a python lay?
A. one
B. one hundred
No one has ever gotten close
C. enough to find out
D. twenty
Which paragraph from the text helps you to
explain your answer for question one?
A. first paragraph
B. second paragraph
C. third paragraph
D. none of the paragraphs
What can you infer that the author believes
about pythons?
A. Pythons are unusual.
B. Pythons are fascinating
C. Pythons are horrific.
D. Pythons are adaptable.
What is the purpose of the second
paragraph?
A. to explain how pythons hibernate
to explain how pythons use camouflage
B. for protection
to explain the environment where
C. pythons live
D. to explain how pythons kill their prey
Which of the following statements is an
opinion?
A. A python can grow as long as thirty feet.
B.
The only other snake that equals the python in
length is the South American green anaconda.
C. Pythons are reptiles.
D. The constrictor is, in fact, a fascinating reptile.