The Narwhal: Arctic’s Unicorn of the Sea — Reading Comprehension
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Standards
MS-LS2-1
RI.6.3
RI.7.3
RI.8.8
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This learning resource is available in interactive and printable formats. The interactive worksheet can be played online and assigned to students. The Printable PDF version can be downloaded and printed for completion by hand.
This NGSS-aligned passage (MS-LS2-1) explores how narwhals survive in Arctic ecosystems. Students learn about specialized feeding on halibut/cod, deep diving to 1,500m for prey, and the tusk's sensory functions. Covers resource availability effects in extreme environments, connecting to key middle school life science standards about organism-environment relationships.
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"Monodon monoceros pod" by Dr. Kristin Laidre, Polar Science Center, UW NOAA/OAR/OER / Wikimedia Commons.
Deep in the icy waters of the Arctic swims one of nature's most extraordinary creatures—the narwhal(Monodon monoceros). Known as the "unicorns of the sea" for their spectacular spiral tusks, these elusive whales are perfectly adapted to life in one of Earth's harshest environments.
Narwhals live exclusively in Arctic waters, primarily around:
● Northern Canada
● Greenland
● Russia
● Norway
They spend their entire lives in frigid temperatures, often swimming among sea ice where few predators can follow. During winter, they migrate to deeper offshore waters to avoid being trapped by ice.
Narwhals are skilled hunters that feast on:
● Arctic cod and halibut
● Shrimp and squid
● Other deep-sea fish
Their unique feeding strategy involves suction feeding—they create a vacuum with their mouths to draw in prey. Surprisingly, they're among the deepest-diving marine mammals, reaching depths of 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) in search of food!
The narwhal's most famous feature is actually a modified tooth that can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet)long. Scientists believe males use these tusks for:
● Sensing changes in their environment
● Establishing dominance
● Possibly even hunting
Fun Fact: Narwhal tusks were once sold as "unicorn horns" in medieval Europe for many times their weight in gold!
Where do narwhals live?
Tropical oceansArctic watersMediterranean SeaAntarctic region
What is a narwhal's tusk actually made of?
BoneModified toothCartilageKeratin
What do narwhals primarily eat?
SeaweedArctic cod and halibutPenguinsPlankton
How do narwhals catch their food?
Filter feedingSuction feedingUsing their tusksChasing prey onto ice
How deep can narwhals dive?
100 meters500 meters1,500 metersThey don't dive
Why do narwhals migrate in winter?
To find warmer waterTo avoid being trapped by iceTo follow their prey southTo give birth
What was historically believed about narwhal tusks?
They were dinosaur teethThey were unicorn hornsThey were mermaid weaponsThey were whale bones
Which of these is NOT a function of the narwhal's tusk?