The document contains definitions for 10 words related to animal behavior: charging, ferocious, communicate, flick, alert, signal, chatter, grooms, dominant, and conflict. It provides examples of how each word is used in a sentence. It then lists the words and asks the reader to match them with example sentences using critical thinking.
3. charging
If an animal is charging, it is rushing or
moving quickly towards something or someone.
1. The crocodile went charging home because
its nest was in danger.
2. If a strange dog was charging you, would you run or stand
still?
3. Would a race car charging around a racetrack be easy to
see? Why?
4. What would you do if a crocodile were charging toward
you?
4. ferocious
A ferocious animal looks angry and wild.
1. The ferocious crocodile protected the water thick-knees.
2. Are most dogs you know gentle or ferocious?
3. Is a kitten usually ferocious? Explain your answer.
4. Is a ferocious animal dangerous or safe? Explain.
5. communicate
When two people or animals communicate,
they share information.
1. Do you communicate well with animals?
2. How can you communicate with a friend who lives far away?
3. How do two male elephant seals communicate with each
other?
4. How would you communicate with another person if you
were deaf?
6. flick
When you flick something, you move it or snap
it quickly.
1. Do you ever flick your tongue across your lips when you are
nervous?
2. Why do you think sea turtles flick sand over their eggs?
3. When you flick a light switch, what might happen?
4. How would you flick a bug that was bothering you?
7. alert
If you alert people to something, you get
their attention and let them know to be
careful.
1. How does a rattle snake signal an alert when someone is too
close?
2. How could you alert someone to danger?
3. How does a baby bird alert its mother that it is hungry?
4. If someone were in danger from a fast-moving car, how
could you alert the person?
8. signal
A signal is a sound or an action that sends a
message.
1. What signal could you give a friend if you saw a sea turtle?
2. What signal might you use to greet a friend?
3. What signal does a stoplight give to a driver?
4. How can you signal someone to be quiet?
9. chatter
When animals chatter, they repeat their
sounds quickly.
1. Why is it not a good idea to chatter in a library?
2. Who is more likely to chatter, a group planning a party or a
girl reading a book? Why?
4. Name some places where it is okay to
chatter and some places where it is
not okay to chatter.
10. grooms
When an animal grooms itself, it makes itself
neat and clean.
1. How do cats groom themselves?
2. Why would a bird groom itself?
3. Does a horse look better before or after someone grooms
it? Why?
4. What do you do to groom yourself before you go to
school?
11. dominant
If someone or something is the strongest, it
is dominant.
1. Two bull elks crash horns to see who is dominant.
2. Which is dominant, a puppy or a grown cat?
3. Which bird is dominant: a baby robin or a bald eagle?
Why?
4. Would a dominant runner be slower than other runners?
Why?
12. conflict
If two animals are fighting, they are in a
conflict.
1. Two arctic hares hit each other
because they are in a conflict.
2. Do you talk about a conflict, or argue
about it?
3. What kind of conflict might there be between two
elephant seals?
4. How would you act if you were in a conflict with a friend?
Explain.
13. Try this. chatter grooms charging conflict dominant
ferocious alert flick communicate signal
1. With a _____________of his finger, he sent the coin flying
across the room.
2. The elephant was ________________ at the jeep.
3. His grandmother doesn't understand his ______________
about video games.
4. A raised flag was the _______________ to begin the race.
5. My cat ______________ herself often.
flick
charging
chatter
signal
grooms
14. chatter groom charging conflict dominant
ferocious alert flick communicate signal
6. Mother bears can become _______________ if their cubs
are hurt.
7. The _______________ of opinions led to arguments about
the best way to build our clubhouse.
8. Space travel was our _______________ topic of discussion.
9. We stayed in the basement until the tornado
_____________ was over.
10. Since my best friend moved away, we ________________
by telephone.
ferocious
conflict
dominant
signal
communicated
