Thorn forest

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

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/thorn-forest

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 location?Subtropical and tropical latitudes with distinct wet and dry seasons
2. What is the annual precipitation range?250 to 1500 mm (approximately 10 to 60 inches)
3. Why do plants in thorn forests have thorns?Thorns are modified stems or leaves that help keep animals from eating the plants. They also protect the plants from being eaten while the plants are weak during dry times.
4. How do animals survive in thorn forests?Animals in thorn forests often move at dawn or dusk, or at night, to stay cool. They eat tough leaves, seeds, or insects and get most of their water from the food they eat.

Xeromorphic: Plant structures or features adapted to survive in dry conditions.
Sclerophylly: Having hard, leathery leaves that are resistant to water loss and herbivory.
Crepuscular: Animals that are most active during twilight hours (dawn and dusk).
Desertification: The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought or unsustainable land use.