Rainforests
Rainforest ecosystems are located near the equator. The weather in a rainforest is warm and humid (moisture in the air) all year long; it rains more than any other area. Rainforests produce a majority of Earth’s oxygen supply.
Rainforests are known for having many living things. There are thousands of different species of animals and plants. Creatures thrive in the climates of the rainforest. The rainforest includes a variety of animals: monkeys, tree frogs, jaguars, different species of birds, and an abundance of a variety of insects.
There are three layers of the rainforest. The top layer is the canopy of the rainforest. This layer has mature (grown) trees and branches. The canopy blocks much of the sun. The next layer is called the understory. This layer includes bushes and growing trees. It is home to many different birds, reptiles and small animals. The last layer is the forest floor. This layer includes shrubs, vines, leaf clutter, and is home to insects and other animals including large predators.
Rainforests are important to our earth because they produce oxygen and are the homes to many plants and animals.

Questions

Write two facts about rainforests.

What does the word thrive mean in paragraph #2?

What is the main idea of the text?

What is the author’s purpose of this text?

Why is the rainforest important to the earth, and how can we protect it?