Reading Passage​

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Some animals have developed survival skills that seem almost unbelievable. These skills help them to manage in the wild, where food can be hard to find and dangers are everywhere. Without such abilities, many of these animals would not be able to live in their environments. They depend on these abilities every single day.

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For example, the pufferfish has a clever way of avoiding predators. When it feels danger, it quickly fills its body with water or air until it looks like a big round ball. This makes it difficult for other animals to swallow and often scares them away. Sometimes predators do not even try to attack after seeing this strange shape.

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Other animals have learned how to defend themselves with surprising weapons. The horned lizard, which lives in dry deserts, can shoot blood out of its eyes to frighten attackers. It may sound shocking, but this strange behaviour can be enough to make a hungry predator leave it alone. Scientists still find this act amazing today.

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Sometimes the best way to stay safe is to escape. The flying fish, for instance, can jump out of the water and glide through the air for short distances. By doing this, it avoids bigger fish that want to eat it. This strange ability gives it a much better chance of surviving. It looks almost like a bird when it flies.

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There are also many ways that animals can adapt to their surroundings. The Arctic fox, for example, changes the colour of its fur depending on the season. In winter it is white, blending with the snow, and in summer it turns brown to match the rocks and soil. This clever change helps it hunt and stay safe from other animals. It shows how nature can be very clever.

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Some animals must protect themselves from more than one kind of threat. The opossum has a special skill: when attacked, it can fall on the ground and pretend to be dead. Many predators lose interest in prey that looks lifeless, and the opossum can then escape when it is safe. People often call this act “playing dead.”

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Animal behaviour like this often shows how closely animals are linked to their environment. The walking stick insect, for example, has a body that looks almost exactly like a twig. In the forests where it lives, this trick helps it to hide from birds and other hunters. Many people cannot even see it unless it moves.

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These survival skills may seem strange, but they are powerful examples of how animals can find amazing ways to stay alive. By studying these skills, scientists learn more about nature and how living things adjust to their world. It reminds us that every creature has its own special story of survival. People are often surprised at how clever animals can be.