Mostly Harmless

How much do you like lizards? They look very much like snakes, which many people think are
ugly, and so they are generally disliked and are often killed without good reason. As a matter of fact, most
lizards do no harm and actually are quite useful. Since they live on insects and worms, they destroy many
harmful pests.
Of the more than two thousand different kinds of lizards, there are only two that are poisonous,
and even these two are found only in a few places. They are the Gila monster and the horrid heloderm.
The Gila monster, sometimes two feet long, is found chiefly in the desert parts of Arizona and New
Mexico. Its bite is painful and may cause death. The horrid heloderm is the beaded lizard of Mexico. It
has large poison gland connected to grooved teeth on the lower jaw. Its bite is also very dangerous.
Many of the lizards that are not dangerous however, are much more interesting. Among these is
the frilled lizard of Australia, which has a collar or frill around its neck. When frightened its frill raised.
Then this lizard is a very amusing sight.

Mostly Harmless
How much do you like lizards? They look very much like snakes, which many people think are
ugly, and so they are generally disliked and are often killed without good reason. As a matter of fact, most
lizards do no harm and actually are quite useful. Since they live on insects and worms, they destroy many
harmful pests.
Of the more than two thousand different kinds of lizards, there are only two that are poisonous,
and even these two are found only in a few places. They are the Gila monster and the horrid heloderm.
The Gila monster, sometimes two feet long, is found chiefly in the desert parts of Arizona and New
Mexico. Its bite is painful and may cause death. The horrid heloderm is the beaded lizard of Mexico. It
has large poison gland connected to grooved teeth on the lower jaw. Its bite is also very dangerous.
Many of the lizards that are not dangerous however, are much more interesting. Among these is
the frilled lizard of Australia, which has a collar or frill around its neck. When frightened its frill raised.
Then this lizard is a very amusing sight.

Testing Yourself
1. While not directly stated, it can be reasoned from the article that lizards are commonly killed because
a. they are thought to be harmfulb. they are all poisonousc. they make unpleasant noises
2. This article as a whole is about
a. the Gila monster

b. the horrid heloderm

c. the frilled lizard

d. various lizards

3. The word which in the last paragraph refers to __________________

4. Many lizards eat only grass and vegetables

Yes

No

Does not say

5. Which two sentences are not true?

a. The Gila monster is one of the most poisonous lizard.
The Gila monster is found only in Mexico.
c. Most lizards live on insects and worms.
d. There are over 2,000 diufferent kinds of lizards.
e. The Gila monster is small lizard, usually not over two inches long.
6. What word in paragraph one means about the same as really?

Testing Yourself
1. While not directly stated, it can be reasoned from the article that lizards are commonly killed because
a. they are thought to be harmfulb. they are all poisonousc. they make unpleasant noises
2. This article as a whole is about
a. the Gila monster

b. the horrid heloderm

c. the frilled lizard

3. The word which in the last paragraph refers to __________________

4. Many lizards eat only grass and vegetables

Yes

No

Does not say

5. Which two sentences are not true?

a. The Gila monster is one of the most poisonous lizard.
The Gila monster is found only in Mexico.
c. Most lizards live on insects and worms.
d. There are over 2,000 diufferent kinds of lizards.
e. The Gila monster is small lizard, usually not over two inches long.
6. What word in paragraph one means about the same as really?

d. various lizards