PaginePaginepagineapp.comA forest may look quiet, but beneath the ground, trees are busy. Their roots are linked by thin threads of fungi, forming an underground network that some scientists call the "wood wide web."
Through this network, trees can share water and nutrients. A tall tree in sunlight may pass sugars to a young seedling growing in shade. In return, the fungi receive food from the trees.
Some research suggests that when a tree is attacked by insects, it may send chemical signals to nearby trees. Those trees may then produce substances that make their leaves taste bad to insects.
Scientists are still learning how these networks work. Their discoveries remind us that a forest is not just a group of separate trees; it is a connected community.
A Pagine Original passage.
1. What is the "wood wide web"?
2. What do trees share through the network?
3. What do fungi get in return?
4. Why might a tree send chemical signals?
5. Why does the author use words like "may" and "suggests"?
6. What is the main idea?
Worksheets › Grade 4 › Reading comprehension
Free 4th grade reading comprehension worksheet: "The Secret Life of Trees", an original non-fiction passage with 6 questions. Answer key included. Skill: Reading informational text: key details and main idea. Level: Grade 4 — also suits Year 5 (UK).
Yes — it is free to print for home or the classroom. Sign in with a free Pagine account, then use the Print button or save it as a PDF.
It is designed for Grade 4 (ages 9–10), but use it with any child who is ready.
Reading informational text: key details and main idea.
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