Strange PartnersStrange Partners5.9B

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A ratel, or honey badger, is peacefully resting. Suddenly, a small bird begins to flutter around the ratel's head.

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The bird chirps and will not leave the ratel alone. It flaps its wings and keeps on chirping.

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What does the ratel do? Does the ratel run? Does the ratel attack the bird fluttering around its head?

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The ratel simply gets up. It does not attack the bird; it does not run away. Instead, it follows the bird because the ratel and the bird are partners.

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The ratel and the bird do things to help each other.

These two animals may seem to form a very strange partnership, yet uncommon partnerships between two different organisms are found all the time in nature.

The partnership between the ratel and the bird is called symbiosis. Symbiosis is when two different organisms work together.

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The bird is an African honeyguide. The honeyguide eats the larva of bees, wasps, and termites. In addition to larva, it eats waxy honeycomb inside beehives.

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The honeyguide may eat larva inside bees' nests, but it needs help getting to the waxy honeycombs. The bird is not strong enough to break open the bees' nest itself.

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However, the ratel is strong enough to break open a bees' nest. The ratel has long, sharp claws. It has tough, thick skin, and thick fur.

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With its skin and fur to protect it from the stings of angry bees, the ratel can safely and easily rip open a nest with its claws.

The keen-eyed honeyguide looks for a nest, and then it looks for a ratel. With its loud chirping and fluttering wings, the honeyguide leads the ratel to the bees' nest.

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Once at the nest, the ratel easily rips it open. The ratel eats the larvae first. Then it is the honeyguide's turn! By teaming up, both the ratel and the honeyguide are able to obtain what they want--a feast of honey, honeycombs, and larvae!

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The African honeyguide and the ratel have a symbiotic relationship because the ratel needs help finding the nest and the honeyguide needs help opening it!

This relationship is why the honeyguide and the ratel are a perfect team!

1. This story is mainly about--

A. a symbiotic team

B. getting honeycomb

C. unusual organisms

D. a keen-eyed honeyguide

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1. This story is mainly about--

A. a symbiotic team

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2. Why doesn't the ratel, or honey badger, attack the honeyguide when the honeyguide will not leave it alone?

A. The ratel will eat first.

B. The ratel is stronger than the honeyguide.

C. The ratel has thick fur and tough skin.

D. The ratel knows the honeyguide will lead it to a bee nest.

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2. Why doesn't the ratel, or honey badger, attack the honeyguide when the honeyguide will not leave it alone?

D. The ratel knows the honeyguide will lead it to a bee nest.

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3. Obtain is to get as--

A. cease : go

B. need : want

C. guide : lead

D. flutter : chirp

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3. Obtain is to get as--

C. guide : lead

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4. From the story, one can tell that ratels most likely lively the continent of--

A. Asia

B. Africa

C. Europe

D. North America

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4. From the story, one can tell that ratels most likely lively the continent of--

B. Africa

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5. What type of relationship do the ratel and the honeyguide have?

A. Symbiosis

B. Parasitic

C. Friendship

D. Normal

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5. What type of relationship do the ratel and the honeyguide have?

A. Symbiosis

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