The Narwhal: Arctic’s Unicorn of the Sea — Reading Comprehension
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About This Reader
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 regionWhat is a narwhal's tusk actually made of?
BoneModified toothCartilageKeratinWhat do narwhals primarily eat?
SeaweedArctic cod and halibutPenguinsPlanktonHow do narwhals catch their food?
Filter feedingSuction feedingUsing their tusksChasing prey onto iceHow deep can narwhals dive?
100 meters500 meters1,500 metersThey don't diveWhy do narwhals migrate in winter?
To find warmer waterTo avoid being trapped by iceTo follow their prey southTo give birthWhat was historically believed about narwhal tusks?
They were dinosaur teethThey were unicorn hornsThey were mermaid weaponsThey were whale bonesWhich of these is NOT a function of the narwhal's tusk?
Sensing environmentEstablishing dominanceFiltering planktonPossibly hunting
