¾ similar to ¾ alike ¾ same as ¾ both

¾ not only… ¾ but also ¾ resemble ¾ as well as ¾ like

¾ however ¾ different from

¾ unlike ¾ although

¾ on the other hand

¾ but ¾ as opposed to ¾ more than ¾ less than ¾ despite

Red pandas and Giant Pandas share part of a name. What else do they have in common? The truth is, Red Pandas and Giant Pandas share very little in common, although some similarities can be found.

Both Red Pandas and Giant Pandas share some of the same habitat. They both live in forests of Asia, where their habitats overlap in Sichuan, China. The Red Panda and the Giant Panda both eat bamboo, and a huge amount of it! The average Giant Panda eats as much as 20 to 45 lbs. (9-20 kg) of bamboo shoots a day. The Red Panda eats 2 to 4 pounds of bamboo shoots and leaves each day — roughly 20 to 30 percent of their body weight. Another similarity between the Red Panda and the Giant Panda is that they have an extended wrist bone, engineered to strip bamboo. This is also described as a “false thumb.” You may wonder how they can coexist in the same forest when they both eat the same food. Scientists say that this coexistence is possible because the pandas eat different parts of the bamboo plant. The Red Panda, like the Giant Panda, are endangered species. Both of these animals are struggling to survive while facing enormous pressure imposed by human beings and loss of habitat. Now, survival of the pandas, Red and Giant, are in the hands of human beings.

Differences between Red Pandas and Giant Pandas are numerous. The following table outlines some of the major differences between the two animals.

~ Read the passage several times, noting the similarities and differences.

RED PANDAS GIANT PANDAS

� Weigh 7 to 14 pounds � Weigh 150 to 250 pounds

� Are reddish-brown and have a long, bushy tail

� Are black-and-white and have a very short tail

� Are arboreal and spend most of their time in trees

� Spend most of their time on the ground

� Are not related to bears at all � Are actually a type of bear

� Are mainly nocturnal (they are most active at night)

� Are diurnal (they are most active during the day time)

~ A Giant Panda showing off its

favorite position while snacking on

bamboo.

~ A Red Panda poses for the

camera, seemingly smiling while

munching some bamboo leaves.

~ Read the passage several times, noting the IMPORTANT

VOCABULARY words.

What inferences can you make about the vocabulary words in bold print? I think ____________________ means ______________________________________________________ because in the text it says_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. This helps understand ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________. I think ____________________ means ______________________________________________________ because in the text it says_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. This helps understand ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________. I think ____________________ means ______________________________________________________ because in the text it says_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. This helps understand ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________. I think ____________________ means ______________________________________________________ because in the text it says_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. This helps understand ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________.

NAME: __________________________

DATE:_______________

~ Read the passage several times, noting the IMPORTANT

VOCABULARY words.

What inferences can you make about the vocabulary words in bold print? I think ____________________ means ______________________________________________________ because in the text it says_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. This helps understand ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________. I think ____________________ means ______________________________________________________ because in the text it says_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. This helps understand ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________. I think ____________________ means ______________________________________________________ because in the text it says_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. This helps understand ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________. I think ____________________ means ______________________________________________________ because in the text it says_______________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________. This helps understand ______________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________.

POSSIBLE ANSWER KEY

coexist living together in the same habitat “…how they can coexist in the same forest when they both eat

eating different parts of the bamboo makes living in the same habitat possible why the pandas

endangered in danger of dying out “…these animals are struggling to survive…”

work to help to protect the pandas from habitat loss and danger of dying out why humans should

arboreal living or spending time in trees that Red Pandas are arboreal and spend most of their time in

trees

Red Pandas are much smaller, they can spend time in trees, whereas Giant Pandas would be too large that the fact that

diurnal most active duirng the daytime explicitly in the chart on the Giant Panda side of the chart

pandas can coexist in the same habitat. They probably don’t get into each other’s way a lot why both types of

the same food.”

Author’s purpose: 1) Why did the writer write this article? The author wrote this article to ______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Important Information:

2) What is the most important information in the first paragraph and how does it help you understand the main idea of this passage? The most important information in the first paragraph is ______________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________ This helps me to understand______________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Supporting Ideas: 3) List (4) major areas/topics of comparison in this selection. a) ________________________

b) ________________________

c) ________________________

d) ________________________

Structure of the Text: 5) What are (3) examples of signal words and/or phrases that help you understand that this selection is

comparing & contrasting two topics? ___________________________,_________________________, _____________________

Main Idea: 4) What is the main idea of the selection? The main idea of this selection is ________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

NAME: ________________________

DATE:_______________

Author’s purpose: 1) Why did the writer write this article?

The author wrote this article to tell how Red Pandas and Giant Pandas are similar in some

ways but differ in many ways too.________________________________________________________________

Important Information: 2) What is the most important information in the first paragraph and how does it help you understand the main idea of this passage?

The most important information in the first paragraph is telling how Red Pandas and Giant______

Pandas, despite sharing a name, actually have very little in common. This helps me to

understand why Red Pandas and Giant Pandas have so many differences.___________________

Supporting Ideas: 3) List (4) major areas/topics of comparison in this selection.

a) Habitat_______________________

b) Food__________________________

c) Weight / size_______________

d) Appearance_________________

Structure of the Text: 5) What are (3) examples of signal words and/or phrases help you understand that this selection is comparing

& contrasting two topics? Some similarities, while, major differences________________________

Main Idea: 4) What is the main idea of the selection?

The main idea of this selection is Red Pandas and_____

Giant Pandas have many differences and only__

few similarities.________________________________________

Name:_____________________________ Date:________________

o alike

o as well as

o both

o but also

o comparable

o …have similar…

o like

o much like…

o not only…

o resemble

o same as

o similar to

o similarly

o although

o although….they still differ in…

o as opposed to

o but

o despite

o different from

o ….have many differences in. ..

o however

o more than

o on the other hand

o on the contrary

o unlike

o yet

Red Pandas Vs. Giant Pandas: How are They Similar and Different?

Red Pandas and Giant Pandas are comparable in some ways. Both, Red Pandas and Giant Pandas live in similar habitats, and eat the same food ~ bamboo. An additional similarity is Red Pandas, like Giant Pandas, have an extended wrist bone, engineered to strip bamboo. Also, both Red Pandas and Giant Pandas are in danger due to habitat loss.

Red Pandas and Giant Pandas are different in many ways. One major difference is that Red Pandas are not actually bears, while on the other hand, Giant Pandas are a type of true bear. Another way these animals differ is that Red Pandas eat different parts of the bamboo plant than Giant Pandas. This helps us to see why they can coexist in the same habitat. An additional difference is that Red Pandas are nocturnal (active at night), and live mainly in trees. On the contrary, Giant Pandas are diurnal (active during the day), and live mainly on the ground. A final difference between Red Pandas and Giant Pandas is their appearance. Red Pandas are reddish-brown and have a long, bushy tail, and Giant Pandas are black-and-white, have a very short tail, and are much larger than Red Pandas. In conclusion, Red Pandas are quite different than Giant Pandas, despite a few similarities. Comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between Red Pandas and Giant Pandas helps us appreciate and understand these animals at a greater depth.

Red Panda cub almost falling

Giant Panda eating

~ An important text feature of non-fiction is a picture’s caption, because it “captures” what is important about a photo or illustration. Each picture shows a simple caption. Your task is to write a different caption based on what you have read and on the content of each picture.

Text Features: Caption Name:_____________________________ Date:____________