5th grade Reading Comp. 2nd Bimester exam guide 2011

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Legend of the Mermaid

by Kelly Hashway

We’ve all heard of mermaids. They are the beautiful half-human, half-fish creatures that live in
the sea. They have the head and torso of a human and the tail of a fish. We also know that mermaids
only exist in fairy tales. But where did all the stories about these creatures come from? If you have ever
seen a manatee, then you might have an idea.

Manatees, which are also called sea cows, are mammals that live in the ocean. Since they are
mammals, they have to swim up to the surface to breathe air. Many people believe that the legend
of the mermaid began with sailors who witnessed the manatees popping their heads out of the water
to breathe. Because manatees are upright when they do this, it can look like they are standing. If a
sailor saw a manatee doing this from far away across the ocean, it is possible that the sailor would
mistake the manatee for a creature that is half-human, half-fish.

Mermaids are described as having long flowing hair. This is probably because manatees like to
swim up to the surface of the water in areas where there is seaweed. Manatees eat all kinds of
vegetation, including sea grass. The seaweed surrounding the manatee’s head when they eat could
give the impression of long hair.

Manatees also have powerful tails that are very similar to the fish-like tail of a mermaid. Sailors
probably watched manatees come up for air and then swim back below the surface, using their
paddle-shaped tails. This would explain why sailors thought mermaids had fish-like tails.
Another similarity between the manatee and the mermaid is how they hold their
young. Manatees cradle their babies in their flippers just like people hold their children in
their arms. So it is easy to see human traits in manatees and how they just might have
led to the legend of the mermaid.

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Instructions: Answer the following questions:

1. What is a manatee?
a. a large, gray fish that lives in the ocean
b. a large, gray fish that lives in lakes
c. a large, gray mammal that lives in the ocean
d. another word for mermaid

2. Three Motives Ancient Sailors had to Mistake Manatees for Mermaids
I ________________________________________________________________________________
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II ________________________________________________________________________________
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III ________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Why would the way manatees hold their babies make it "easy to see human traits in manatees"?
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4. What is the theme of the article?
a. Manatees are really beautiful women.
b. Manatees may be the origin of the legend of the Mermaids.
c. Sharing interesting information about manatees.
d. Ancient sailors drank too much wine