Built for the Cold: Polar Bears

Use the pictures and the words to learn how a polar bear's body helps it.

Read and look

Read the text. Then read the picture notes. They tell what each picture shows.

Polar Bears

1Polar bears live in the far north, where it is very cold. In winter, snow and ice cover much of the land and sea there.

2A polar bear has thick fur. Under its skin is a layer of fat. Fur and fat keep the bear warm.

3A polar bear has big, wide paws. Its paws help it walk on snow and ice. They also help it swim in cold water.

4A polar bear has a great nose. It can smell food from far away.

Picture notes
Picture 1: A big polar bear stands on the snow. Its fur looks white, like the snow all around it. Labels point to its small, round ears, its black nose, its thick fur and its big, wide paws.
Picture 2: A polar bear swims in icy water. Only its head is above the water. Its front paws push the water back like paddles.
Caption under Picture 2: Big paws help a polar bear swim.

Use the pictures and the words

Answer each question.

What is this text mostly about? Use the words and the pictures.

Question 1 optionsA. how polar bears play with their cubs in the snowB. how polar bears stay cool in hot, sunny forestsC. how a polar bear's body helps it live in the cold

Look at Picture 1. Why might the bear be hard to see on the snow?

Question 2 optionsA. Its fur looks white, like the snow.B. It is lying down behind a big rock.C. It is swimming far out in the water.

Look at Picture 1. Write the color of the bear's nose.

The polar bear's nose is .

Read paragraph 2 again. Underline the sentence that tells what keeps the bear warm.

Each detail tells about one part of the polar bear. Sort the details. Use the words and the pictures.

Which sentence from the text goes best with Picture 2?

Question 6 optionsA. It can smell food from far away.B. They also help it swim in cold water.C. Under its skin is a layer of fat.

Look at Picture 1. Write the word that tells the shape of the bear's ears.

The bear's ears are small and .

Where do polar bears live? Use paragraph 1 and Picture 1.

Question 8 optionsA. in a warm place with lots of tall treesB. in a dry place with lots of hot sandC. in a cold place with lots of snow and ice

Tell one way a polar bear's body helps it live in the cold. Use a detail from the words or a picture.