Big Bend National Park — Reading Comprehension — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 5th Grade reading comprehension comprehension exercise.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet5th Grade · English · Reading ComprehensionBig Bend National Park — Reading Comprehension — Answers
Part A: Find the facts
Answer: From the huge U-shaped turn, or great bend, that the Rio Grande makes there.
Answer: 1944.
- Aa lake
- Bthe border between the United States and Mexico
- Cthe border between Texas and New Mexico
- Da waterfall
Answer: the border between the United States and Mexico
The text says the Rio Grande “forms the border between the United States and Mexico.”
Answer: The Chihuahuan Desert.
Answer: Roadrunners and javelinas.
Part B: Think about it
Answer: False
Oak, juniper and pine trees grow in the Chisos Mountains and “could not survive on the desert floor.”
Answer: True
Paragraph 4 says so.
Answer: The mountains have trees such as oak, juniper and pine, while the desert has cactus and yucca. This is because the air is cooler higher up in the mountains.
Answer: It is far from big cities and their bright lights, so there is very little light to hide the stars.
- Ato tell a funny story about a camping trip
- Bto inform readers about the different landscapes of Big Bend
- Cto give instructions for paddling a canoe
- Dto argue that the desert should be protected from visitors
Answer: to inform readers about the different landscapes of Big Bend
Each paragraph gives information about one part of the park.
Answer: They show what each paragraph is about, so the reader can quickly find information about one part of the park.
Part C: Words in the text
- Avery hot
- Bvery windy
- Cvery short
- Dvery cloudy
Answer: very hot
The next words, “often over 100 °F,” are a clue.
- Aheavy
- Bloud
- Chard to find; there is not much of it
- Dvery cold
Answer: hard to find; there is not much of it
Desert plants have to “store water,” which shows there is little rain.
Part D: Write about it
Model answer: Dear Grandpa, We have to visit Big Bend National Park together! First, we could paddle a canoe through Santa Elena Canyon, where the rock walls rise more than 1,000 feet, with Texas on one side and Mexico on the other. Then we could hike in the cool Chisos Mountains and look out over the desert for miles. At night, we could lie back and see thousands of stars and the Milky Way, because it is one of the darkest places in the country. Please say yes! Love, Ava
Success criteria:
- Written as a postcard with a greeting and sign-off
- Mentions at least three different things to see or do
- Uses accurate details from the text
- Uses persuasive language
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.