King of the Jungle

 Lions are known as the "king of the jungle." However, lions usually live in savannas or grasslands. These habitats work best because are open areas which allow lions to roam freely. Lions are nicknamed "king" because they are strong and powerful. Their size ranges from four to nine feet long, and they can weigh up to 500 pounds. Despite being so big, a lion can run as fast as 50 miles per hour and can leap over 30 feet in just one jump. These traits help lions catch zebras, wildebeests, or other types of prey. Female lions do most of the hunting, while males stay back to defend their pride. A pride can consist of over 10 lions, usually with twice as many females than males. It also includes many cubs. Lion cubs stay close to their mothers while they are young. They cannot even roar until they are two years old. Once they are older though, a lion's roar can be heard up to five miles away! 

Although these majestic cats are a symbol of strength, their species is vulnerable and population is decreasing. Lions were once roaming all over Asia, Africa and Europe. However, today they are really only found in the sub Saharan desert in Africa. It's our job to protect these animals so they can continue to rule the jungle for many years to come.

Vocabulary
Savannas (noun)- grassy area with few trees
Habitats (noun)- animal's home
Roam (verb)- travel
Prey (noun)- animals killed for food
Defend(verb)- protect
Pride (noun)-group of lions 
Cubs (noun)- baby lions
Majestic (adjective)- beautiful, impressive
Species (noun)- type of animal
Vulnerable (verb)- able to be attacked, harmed

Vocabulary Activity-

Grammar Point Underline the numbers used in the paragraphs above. When we use numbers in our writing, we usually express the numbers zero through nine with words and use digits for the number 10 or greater.

Your Turn: Choose whether the numbers are expressed correctly. If they are wrong, correct them.

               a) 9          b) fifty-three         c) one         d) twenty one         e) 5         f) 72