Citing Evidence: Part I Grade 5 Copyright © 2014 by Write Score LLC

What is Text Evidence? Text evidence is necessary when answering questions about a text. Examples of text evidence include facts or quotes taken from the text that support your answer. Text evidence should be cited. Citing text evidence gives credit to the author or source that provided the information.

Citing Evidence: Give Text Evidence: In the text, “Black Mambas”,… According to the passage, “Black Mambas”,… One example from the text, “Black Mambas”,… The author of “Black Mambas” states… The author, Carli Hayer, wrote… The illustration in “Black Mambas” shows… One example on page ___ of “Black Mambas” is…

Citing Evidence: Give MORE Text Evidence: The text also states… Another example from the text is… The author also wrote…

Black Mambas By Carli Hayer The black mamba is considered by many to be the world’s deadliest snake. Black mambas are fast, nervous snakes. They are easily threatened, very aggressive, and their venom is deadly. Black mambas live in the grasslands and rocky hills of Africa. They are one of the fastest snakes in the world. They can slither across the ground at speeds of up to 12 miles per hour. Black mambas are the longest venomous snake in Africa and can grow up to 14 feet in length.

Black Mambas (continued) By Carli Hayer The skin of a black mamba is gray-green, but the snake gets its name from the inside of its mouth. When threatened, the black mamba will open its mouth and show the dark blue-black color inside.

Black Mambas (continued) By Carli Hayer Black mambas are shy. These huge snakes will almost always try to escape when confronted. When the snake is unable to get away from whatever is threatening it, it will attack. First, the snake will raise its head high off of the ground. Then it will spread open its neck flap, open its mouth, and hiss. If this doesn’t scare off its attacker, the black mamba will strike. When the black mamba strikes, it strikes over and over again. With each strike, it injects large amounts of venom into its attacker.

Black Mambas (continued) By Carli Hayer Today, there is an antivenom that can save the victim of a black mamba bite. Before this antivenom, a bite from a black mamba was 100 percent fatal. The victim usually died within 20 minutes. Deaths from black mamba bites are still frequent, as the snake lives in remote areas where the antivenom is not readily available.

Question #1: Explain why the black mamba is considered one of the world’s deadliest snakes. Support your answer with text evidence. The black mamba is one of the world’s deadliest snakes. According to the passage, “Black Mambas”, black mambas are very aggressive and have deadly venom. The text also states that when black mambas attack, they attack over and over again. This means the snake will strike its victim many times. Every time the snake strikes, it injects its venom into its victim.

Your Turn to Try! Question #2: Explain how a black mamba attack can be avoided. Support your answer with text evidence.

Find the Sentence Starters. Find the Text Evidence. Your Turn to Try! (continued) Find the Sentence Starters. Find the Text Evidence. Black mamba attacks can be avoided. According to the text, “Black Mambas”, the black mamba is a shy snake. Most of the time, the big snake will try to get away from something that is threatening it. The text states that if the black mamba is cornered, it will raise its head, open its neck flaps, and hiss in an attempt to scare off its attacker. If its attacker is scared off, the black mamba may not strike.