Brazil nut

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/brazil-nut

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How tall is Brazil nut?Up to 200 feet (60 meters)
2. What is the scientific name?Bertholletia excelsa
3. What is the native region?Amazon basin, primarily Brazil, Bolivia, and Peru
4. What is a Brazil nut tree?It is a giant Amazon tree that can grow up to 200 feet tall and live more than 500 years. It produces very hard, cannonball‑like nuts that people eat.
5. Why do bees and rodents help Brazil nut trees?Large orchid bees pollinate the tree’s flowers, and agoutis, a type of rodent, open the hard fruit and bury the seeds, helping new trees grow.

Emergent Species: Trees that grow taller than the main forest canopy, reaching into direct sunlight.
Keystone Species: A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance.
Oxidative Stress: Cellular damage caused by an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants.
Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP): Products derived from forests that do not involve timber harvesting, such as nuts, fruits, and resins.