ANALYZATION QUESTION: Which of the following responses below BEST helps to complete the R.A.C.E (restate, answer, cite evidence, explain evidence) strategy for responding to the following prompt: In 2-3 sentences, identify and explain the evidence that the author uses to support the claim that “Sloths are some of the most interesting animals in the world.” Sloths are some of the most interesting animals in the world. They are slow-moving mammals that spend most of their time hanging upside down in the trees of Central and South American rainforests. They have a special kind of fur that camouflages them from their predators, and an extra-long curved claw that helps them to hang on tightly to branches. Sloths are mostly nocturnal, sleeping during the day and becoming active at night, when they forage for food. They are expert swimmers and climbers, and can move twice as fast in the water as they do on land. Sloths eat a variety of leaves, buds, and fruits, and occasionally small insects. They have an incredibly slow metabolism, and it can take up to a month for them to digest their food. Sloths are solitary creatures, but you can sometimes find them sleeping in groups or cuddling with one another. While they may seem like lazy animals, they are actually very important to the rainforest ecosystem, spreading seeds, providing homes for other creatures, and helping to keep the trees healthy. Sloths are an amazing species, and we can all be thankful that they are still around. (4 points)

Answer 1

To best complete the R.A.C.E. strategy for the prompt on sloths, the response could be structured as follows:

Restate: The author claims that "Sloths are some of the most interesting animals in the world."

Answer: The evidence supporting this claim includes their unique adaptations and behaviors, which distinguish them in the animal kingdom.

Cite Evidence: For instance, the author notes that sloths have special fur that camouflages them from predators, and an extra-long curved claw that helps them hang onto branches.

Explain Evidence: These adaptations not only help them survive in their natural habitat but also make them fascinating subjects of study. Furthermore, their unique metabolism, which allows them to digest food over an extended period, emphasizes how different they are from many mammals, highlighting the wonder of their biology.

This response effectively follows the R.A.C.E. strategy, addressing all components while using evidence from the text to explain the claim about sloths.