Brown rat

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

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/brown-rat

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. What is the scientific name?Rattus norvegicus
2. What is the origin?Northern China
3. Where do brown rats live?They can be found in almost any environment, from the cold Arctic to warm tropical ports, and often live close to people in places like sewers, basements, and walls.
4. Why are brown rats so good at finding food?They have a strong sense of smell and hearing, and they eat many kinds of food such as seeds, fruits, insects, and even small animals, so they can find food almost anywhere.

Commensalism: A relationship where one species benefits and the other is neither harmed nor helped.
Neophobia: An aversion to novelty or new things, often seen in foraging behavior.
Biomedical Model: An animal species extensively used in scientific research to study human diseases and biological processes.