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

Cause and Effect
Students practice the skill by looking for what happens (the effect) and 
why it happens (the cause). 
Fact and Opinion
Students determine whether parts of the passage can be proved (facts) or 
represent what someone thinks or feels (opinions).
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5/6/10 4:00 PM

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Name: 
© Evan-Moor Corp. • EMC 3453 • Daily Reading Comprehension 
89
WEEK 14
DAY 1
READ THE PASSAGE
Think about the reasons why a bat hangs upside down.
Upside Down Works Best
A bat’s body is small and light. It is built for flying. But it is also made for resting 
upside down. A bat’s feet have toes that bend. The toes end in claws that are 
sharp and curved. Because bats have toes that bend and sharp claws, they can 
hold on tight to things. A bat’s feet have special bones, too. Those bones lock into 
place when a bat hangs. This means that a bat can’t fall, even when it rests.
Hanging upside down is useful for bats. Hanging high off the ground keeps 
bats safe from snakes and cats. And bats can live where other flying animals 
cannot. Unlike a bat, no bird can live on the ceiling of a cave. And not even a 
powerful bird like an eagle can hang upside down underneath a bridge.
Hanging also helps a bat fly. A bat’s wings are about as thin as a plastic bag. 
They cannot lift a bat off the ground. However, hanging upside down is perfect for 
take-off. When a bat is ready to fly, it lets go, unfolds its wings, and glides away.
SKILL PRACTICE
Read the question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
 1. What is one reason why a bat hangs 
upside down to rest?
A 
It is easy to run from that position.
B 
It is easy to fly from that position.
C 
It is easy to eat from that position.
D 
It is easy to jump from that position.