Poisonous Rattlesnakes an interactive reading activity for an ESL classroom STANDARDS OF LEARNING: ELP 1 "English language learners communicate for Social and Instructional Purposes within the school setting." ELP 2 "English language learners communicate information, ideas and concepts necessary for academic success in the content area of Language Arts." Slides by Michael Selikhov, Arcadia High School Text courtesy of The Reading Lab,

Poisonous Rattlesnakes Directions: Read the story. Then, complete the quiz.

Dangerous Rattlesnakes As unique as the buffalo is to the American prairie, the rattlesnake is to its mountains and deserts. There is a high concentration of them in the American Southwest, but they can be found in most parts of the country. This snake, found only in the Americas, is deadly poisonous, and should be treated with great caution. There are about thirty species of rattlesnakes in America. The most dangerous of them is the eastern diamondback rattlesnake found mostly in the mountains. In the deserts of the southwest, there is the sidewinder.

A rattlesnake can grow to be two meters long. The main characteristic of a rattlesnake is the rattle located at the tip of its tail. Before striking, the rattlesnake sends out a warning by shaking its rattle. It makes a whirring sound when shaken. This rattle is nothing more than horny and loosely connected hollow segments, added one at a time with each skin shedding.

The skin of the rattlesnake is sometimes prized by those who may have captured and killed one. Most skins are blotched with dark diamond designs and usually are gray or light-brown in color. However, this may vary among the different species. The skin is sometimes used for making belts and straps, and many people who live in the mountains may have a story or two of an encounter with the deadly.

It is easier to protect yourself against a snake bite than to treat it. You should learn how to identify a poisonous snake by its markings, watch where you walk, and avoid putting your hands where you can't see. When hiking or camping, it is a good idea to wear heavy boots and carry a long stick.

If a person is bitten by a rattlesnake, an intense burning pain will occur within five minutes. Swelling will follow, and the skin around the bite will become discolored. The victim may soon feel dizzy and nauseous and may faint within a few minutes.

Even though the rattlesnake bite may be deadly, there are some people who enjoy eating the meat of the rattlesnake, and recipes exist for rattlesnake stew. Of course, the poison should be removed before cooking. Does this sound strange? It shouldn't to the Japanese who prize eating fugu. This fish, considered a delicacy, contains a toxin even more deadly than the rattlesnake's bite.

There are even those who live in the mountains of Appalachia who use the rattlesnake in their church services. They are called the Holy Ghost People, a group of Pentecostals who chant themselves into a religious ecstasy. At the height of their worship, they pick up deadly rattlesnakes with their bare hands and hold them up to the Lord. If the snake does not bite them, it is a sign of God's love and protection over them. However, if the snake does bite them, it would have been safer to have eaten the stew.

TIME FOR A QUIZ! Are you ready?

Where do most rattlesnakes live? 0 of 6 1.In the swamps 2.In the mountains and deserts 3.In abandoned houses 4.In the water

Which of these is the deadliest snake in America? 0 of 6 1.sidewinder 2.eastern diamondback 3.big biter snake 4.Holy Ghost snake

To what length can a rattlesnake grow? 0 of meters. 2.1 meter. 3.5 meters meters

What does the rattle of the rattlesnake consist of? 0 of 6 1.It is made of small stones. 2.It is made of dry skin. 3.It is made up of small loose bones. 4.It is made of loosely connected hollow segments

What does a rattlesnake do before it strikes? 0 of 6 1.It raises its head high 2.It coils into a ball 3.It sends out a warning with its rattle 4.It opens its mouth wide

What is made of rattlesnake skin? 0 of 6 1.handbags 2.books 3.straps and belts 4.stew

0 of 6 If you are hiking in an area known to have rattlesnakes, what should you wear or bring? 1.Medicine for bites 2.Heavy boots and a stick 3.A flashlight 4.A torch

Which does NOT happen when bitten by a rattlesnake? 0 of 6 1.A burning pain occurs near the bite. 2.The area around the bite becomes discolored. 3.There is a feeling of dizziness and nausea. 4.The person begins to spit blood

What kind of sign occurs when the "Holy Ghost People" pick up a rattlesnake and it does not bite them? 0 of 6 1.A sign that the rattlesnake has no poison. 2.A sign that God is protecting them. 3.A sign that it would be safer to eat rattlesnake stew. 4.A sign that the snake likes them

What is fugu? 0 of 6 1.A snake 2.A bird 3.A snail 4.A fish