Nature · Level 2 · 150 words

The Geese in the V

Original passage © Studio AM, written for Fluency.

Each autumn, as the days grow short, great flocks of geese rise into the sky and fly south for the winter. Look up, and you may see them in a clear V shape, one long arm on each side. This shape is not for show. It saves the birds a great deal of energy.

As each goose flaps, its wings push the air and leave a small rising current behind. The goose just behind and to the side rides on that current, so it does not have to work as hard. Only the lead goose, at the point of the V, gets no such help.

That is why the geese take turns in front. When the leader grows tired, it drops back, and another moves up to take its place. In this way, no single bird carries the whole load, and the flock can fly many hundreds of miles together.

Comprehension questions

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4 questions
1. What is the main idea of the passage?

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A. Geese fly in a V and take turns leading to save energy on a long trip
The passage explains that the V shape and turn-taking save the geese energy.

2. According to the text, which goose gets no help from the current?

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B. The lead goose at the point of the V
The text says "only the lead goose, at the point of the V, gets no such help."

3. Why do the geese take turns flying in front?

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B. The leader gets no help and tires, so they share the hardest spot
The leader "gets no such help" and tires, so "another moves up to take its place."

4. In this passage, "flocks" most nearly means

Show answer for question 4

B. large groups of birds
"Great flocks of geese rise into the sky," so a flock is a large group of birds.

Source: Written for Fluency. Original passage © Studio AM, written for Fluency.