Lifecycle of a Frog

There are four major stages in the lifecycle of a frog.

The first stage is the egg. A frog lays many eggs at once. The eggs are protected with a jelly-like coating.

The second stage is the “tadpole,” which hatches out of the eggs. The tadpole does not look much like a frog. It has gills like a fish and can breathe underwater. It also has a tail, but no legs.

In the next stage, the tadpole begins to grow. It forms lungs so that it can breathe on land. It also grows front and back legs, and its tail gets smaller.

The last stage is the adult frog. This is what we are used to seeing. It has strong legs for hopping, and it can live on land (and also in the water). The tail is gone by this point.

When the adult frog lays eggs, the lifecycle starts all over.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1) Which of the following phrases best represents the main idea of the passage?

a. A frog lays many eggs at once.

b. There are four major stages in the lifecycle of a frog.

c. The frog has strong legs for hopping and swimming.

d. When the adult frog lays eggs, the lifecycle starts over.

2) Based on the above passage, the 2^nd stage of a frog's lifecycle could best be described as which of these?

a. the "adult stage"

b. the "egg stage"

c. the "tadpole stage"

d. the "breathing stage"

3) According to the above passage, which of the following is the biggest difference between a frog and a tadpole?

a. the frog hatches from an egg; the tadpole does not

b. the frog has lungs; the tadpole does not

c. the frog can live in water; the tadpole can not

d. the frog has a tail; the tadpole does not

4) In the above passage, the author uses the simile, “…gills like a fish…” This phrase is used to explain which of the following?

a. the swimming skills of a tadpole

b. the size and shape of a tadpole's tail

c. the type of fish that looks most like a tadpole

d. the ability of a tadpole to breathe underwater

5) The above passage most likely came from which of the following?

a. a deep-sea fishing magazine

b. a local newspaper

c. a science text book

d. a historical fiction novel

Answer Key

1) Which of the following phrases best represents the main idea of the passage?

a. A frog lays many eggs at once.

b. There are four major stages in the lifecycle of a frog.

c. The frog has strong legs for hopping and swimming.

d. When the adult frog lays eggs, the lifecycle starts over.

2) Based on the above passage, the 2^nd stage of a frog's lifecycle could best be described as which of these?

a. the "adult stage"

b. the "egg stage"

c. the "tadpole stage"

d. the "breathing stage"

3) According to the above passage, which of the following is the biggest difference between a frog and a tadpole?

a. the frog hatches from an egg; the tadpole does not

b. the frog has lungs; the tadpole does not

c. the frog can live in water; the tadpole can not

d. the frog has a tail; the tadpole does not

4) In the above passage, the author uses the simile, “…gills like a fish…” This phrase is used to explain which of the following?

a. the swimming skills of a tadpole

b. the size and shape of a tadpole's tail

c. the type of fish that looks most like a tadpole

d. the ability of a tadpole to breathe underwater

5) The above passage most likely came from which of the following?

a. a deep-sea fishing magazine

b. a local newspaper

c. a science text book

d. a historical fiction novel