Before you read, talk about these questions with a partner:
1. Where is the Amazon located?
2. What is a rainforest?
3. What kinds of animals live in the rainforest?
4. Why are rainforests in danger?
Read the story. Then complete the activity.
In the dark rainforest animals make strange sounds as water drips from the leaves. Parrots fly from branch to branch, catching and eating strange insects. The Amazon is the home for 2.5 million insects and 2,000 different birds. It has thousands of different mammals and at least 40,000 plant species. It is a place of unique bio-diversity. All of this diversity is in danger.
The biggest threat to the rainforest is the desire for land. People want to build roads to make it easy to travel in the forest. Others want to use the land for farming soybeans. Ranchers want to use the land to raise cattle for sale. To get the land people cut down trees to clear the rainforest. Removing trees is called deforestation.
The government of Brazil is working hard to stop people from destroying the rainforest. They have passed laws to prevent people from illegally holding the land. The government is also taking cattle and machines away from ranchers and loggers. These laws may help the rainforest live for years to come.
B. Answer the questions.
1. What is the main topic of the story?
a. Animals in the forest b. Saving the Rain forest C. The Amazon Rain forest
2. What is deforestation? ____________________________________________________
3. How many insects live in the rain forest? ______________________________________
D. Discussion
How can you help the rainforest? Tell your partner what you can do.
Why is protecting the rainforest important? Think of at least 2 reasons.