• Practice for every day of the school year • Help students prepare for standardized testing

Name: 
© Evan-Moor Corp. • EMC 3453 • Daily Reading Comprehension 
173
WEEK 28
DAY 1
READ THE PASSAGE
Think about where otters live and how they behave.
Looking Good!
You spend time each day washing up and brushing your hair and teeth. You do 
this to stay healthy. Sea otters spend hours each day grooming themselves. They 
have to. Grooming keeps sea otters alive. 
Sea otters have the thickest fur of all animals. Their plush coat holds air 
bubbles. The air bubbles work like a shield against the cold Pacific Ocean where 
sea otters live. If the cold water reaches a sea otter’s skin, the animal can freeze 
to death. Using their front paws, sea otters press water out of their fur. Air bubbles 
move in to replace the water. Sea otters also blow into their fur to trap air.
Matted, messy, or dirty fur cannot hold air bubbles. Food and kelp can get onto 
sea otters’ fur. They use their sharp claws like combs to clean and untangle their 
fur. They roll and twist and bend in a complete circle to get to every bit of mess. 
Their fur is loose. So, if they can’t quite reach a part, they simply pull it closer. 
SKILL PRACTICE
Read the question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
 1.
 
Where do the animals in the passage live?
A 
in the Atlantic Ocean
B 
in an aquarium
C 
in a cold lake
D 
in the Pacific Ocean
 2.
 
Sea otters need to groom in order
to 
.
A 
float in the ocean
B 
keep air bubbles in their fur
C 
roll and twist their bodies
D 
swim easily
 3.
 
Which one is true about sea otters?
A 
They are suited to life in cold water.
B 
They like to look well-groomed.
C 
They are messy eaters.
D 
They often pull their fur out.