Why Do Penguins Not Fly? | Easy Science Reading

This short science reading passage is for English learners. Read the passage, learn key vocabulary, and answer the questions.

Penguins do not fly because their bodies are adapted for swimming and diving.

Reading Level

A2-B1

Word Count

286 words

Reading Passage

Penguins are birds, but they do not fly in the air. Instead, they are excellent swimmers. Their bodies are built for life in cold oceans.

Most flying birds have wings that are light and wide. These wings help them push air downward and rise into the sky. Penguin wings are different. They are short, strong, and shaped more like flippers.

Penguins use their flippers to move through water. In the ocean, they look a little like they are flying underwater. Their flippers push water, and their smooth bodies help them move quickly.

Penguins also have heavier bones than many flying birds. Light bones help birds fly. Heavier bones help penguins dive and stay underwater. This is useful because penguins catch fish and other small sea animals for food.

A penguin's body shows an important idea in nature: animals are adapted to their homes. Penguins do not need to fly away from trees or land to find food. They need to swim, dive, and stay warm.

Over a very long time, penguins became better at swimming and worse at flying. Their wings became flippers. Their bodies became strong for water. This was a tradeoff.

Penguins cannot fly in the sky, but they are not weak birds. They are powerful ocean swimmers. Their bodies are perfect for the world they live in.

Penguin wings became flippers, helping them swim instead of fly.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example
penguin	a bird that swims well but does not fly	Penguins live near cold oceans.
flippers	flat body parts used for swimming	Penguins use flippers to swim.
adapted	built or changed for a certain way of life	Penguins are adapted to the ocean.
dive	to go down under water	Penguins dive to catch fish.
tradeoff	a choice where gaining one thing means losing another	Better swimming was a tradeoff for flying.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. Are penguins birds?
2. What are penguin wings shaped like?
3. Why are heavier bones useful for penguins?
4. What do penguins need to do to find food?
5. What was the tradeoff for penguins?

Answers

1. Yes. Penguins are birds.
2. Their wings are shaped more like flippers.
3. Heavier bones help penguins dive and stay underwater.
4. Penguins need to swim and dive to find food.
5. Penguins became better at swimming but lost the ability to fly in the air.

Short Summary

Penguins do not fly because their bodies are adapted for swimming. Their wings became flippers, and their heavier bones help them dive underwater.

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