Reading Comprehension Test

Coral Reefs

Name_____________________________________ Number ______

A coral reef is an underwater habitat. It is formed from many coral polyps. These polyps are
small invertebrate animals. They have hard outer skeletons. The skeletons are shaped like tubes.
One end of the tube attaches to something hard. The other end has a mouth and tentacles to get
food.

When a coral polyp dies, its skeleton remains. New polyps attach themselves to the skeletons.
Over many years, a reef forms. Ocean animals live in and around the reef.

The five world major coral reefs in the world are the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, The Belize
and Palancar Reefs in Mexico, Raja Ampat in Indonesia and the Grand Central Station in Fiji.

I. Follow the instructions to write the LETTER of the reef in the box where it is located. Some
boxes won´t need a letter.
- First, highlight the names of Mexico, Indonesia, Australia, and Fiji with a yellow colored
pencil.
a. Great Barrier Reef is located at the northern, left side of Australia.

b. Belize Barrier Reef is located at the north, right side of Mexico, in the Atlantic Ocean.
c. Palancar Reef is located at the south, right side of Mexico in the Atlantic Ocean.
d. Raja Ampat is located on the north of Indonesia, in the Indian Ocean.
e. Grand Central Station, is located on the left side Fiji in the Pacific Ocean.
II. Read the questions and circle the letter with the correct answer.
1. What are polyps?
a. They are small vertebrate animals.
b. They are small invertebrate mammals.
c. They are small invertebrate animals.

2. What part of their body do polyps use to catch food?

a. They use their mouth.
b. They use their tentacles.
c. They use their tenticles.

3. How does a coral reef grow?

a. It grows when the skeletons attach to the skeletons of death corals.
b. It grows when the new polyps attach to the skeletons of death polyps.
c. It grows when skeletons attach to new polyps.

4. What shape does a coral polyp have?

a. It has the shape of a tub.
b. It has the shape of a cube.
c. It has the shape of a tube.

5. What are the coral polyp skeletons like?

a. They have an inner skeleton.
b. They have an outer skeleton.
c. They have an outer spine in their skeleton.