Page 4 - Reading Success B4

Kangaroos live only in Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea. They are the
Australian national animal. Kangaroos come in all sizes. The largest kangaroo is

the red kangaroo, which is sometimes 7 feet (2m) tall and weighs 200 pounds
(90kg). The smallest is the rat kangaroo, which is about the size of a rabbit.

Medium sized kangaroos are also called wallabies. Another kind of kangaroo is
the tree kangaroo. It has strong claws that help it hold on to branches as it

jumps from tree to tree. It even sleeps in trees.
The red kangaroo is a shy, nervous animal that eats grass and leaves. If a

kangaroo sees a wild dog or another enemy approaching, it hops away on its
giant hind legs. A red kangaroo usually hops 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3m) in a single

jump. It can travel 25 miles (45km) an hour. A kangaroo will defend itself by
kicking with its powerful hind legs, which can kill another animal.

Kangaroos belong to a branch of the animal kingdom called the “marsupial.”
Each female marsupial has a pouch, or furry pocket, under the skin of its belly. A

female kangaroo usually has only one baby at a time. The newborn kangaroo is
only about an inch (2.5cm) long. As soon as the baby is born, it makes its way to

its mother’s pouch . Inside the mother’s pouch is a nipple. Milk comes from the
end of the nipple. The newborn kangaroo fastens its mouth to the nipple. It lies

cozily in its mothe’s pouch for about two months, while it develops enough to
begin to explore the outside world. A young kangaroo is called a “joey.” The joey

learns to eat grass and take care of itself. The joey hurries back to its mother’s
pouch whenever there is danger about.

Main Idea

What is the main idea of this story?

a. some different types of kangaroos

b. what kangaroos eat
c. some features and habits of kangaroos

d. some features and habits of the tree kangaroo

6_Reading Success B 4