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

SKILL PRACTICE
Read the question. Fill in the bubble next to the correct answer.
 1. The main character in the 
passage is a 
.
A 
giraffe
B 
zoo doctor
C 
pet doctor
D 
zookeeper
 2. What is the setting of
the passage?
A 
a zoo
B 
an animal’s cage
C 
an animal hospital
D 
a doctor’s office
 3. Based on the passage, which one is true 
about helping zoo animals?
A 
They are easy to care for.
B 
A doctor helps them all in the
same way.
C 
A zoo doctor has to be creative.
D 
They are just like pets.
 4. Based on the passage, what would 
Dr. Cullion probably say about her job? 
A 
“I like birds the best of all animals.”
B 
“All animals are the same.”
C 
“I help animals that will not hurt me.” 
D 
“Working with animals is never boring.”
STRATEGY PRACTICE
Tell a partner what you know about animal doctors.
Character and Setting
3453.indb 101
5/6/10 4:00 PM

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Name: 
102
Daily Reading Comprehension • EMC 3453 • © Evan-Moor Corp.
WEEK 16
DAY 2
READ THE PASSAGE
Who or what is the passage about, and where does it take place?
Go Away!
Bo sat quietly out of sight. The scientist was watching a porcupine climb down 
a pine tree. About 30,000 quills covered the porcupine’s back and tail. The quills, 
which are stiff hairs, lay flat against the animal’s body. 
Then Bo heard a noise. So did the porcupine. A hungry coyote wandered out 
of the woods. The porcupine’s quills stood up. The scared porcupine gave a 
warning by stamping its feet. The coyote did not move. The porcupine shook its 
tail so the quills rattled. Still the coyote did not move.
Bo wondered how the porcupine would defend itself. He knew the porcupine 
could not shoot its quills. That happened only in cartoons. Then the porcupine 
turned its back end to the coyote. It slapped the coyote with its tail. At the same 
time, the porcupine moved some muscles. That released many quills. Some quills 
stuck right in the animal’s hide. The coyote left with a whimper. Losing the quills 
was no problem for the porcupine. They would grow back.