07 Creatures that Use Soil

The earthworm is an animal that is very important to soil.They mix up the various layers of soil and leave tunnels in the soil for air and water. They also decompose dead leaves and animal waste, leaving nutrients for plants to grow well.

Some other animals that live in soil are ants, centipedes, beetles, crickets, and snails.

These creatures that live in soil all help in a process called composting. This happens when plant and animal materials are broken down into tiny parts that become part of the soil. This happens naturally on the ground of every forest.

Word List

nutrients : any materials that are good for living things

decompose : to break down into smaller parts

You Practice

I. Answer the following questions.

1） What are some animals that live in soil?

2） How do earthworms help the soil?

3） What is composting?

4） Where does composting happen?

II. Fill in the blanks. Complete the sentences with words from the reading.

1） A c _ _ _ _ _ _ is an example of an animal that lives in the soil.

2） Earthworms decompose dead l _ _ _ _ _

3） N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ are good for living things.

4） Earthworms mix up layers of s _ _ _.

5） Composting happens in all f _ _ _ _ _ _.

III. Read the sentences carefully. Write Yes or No.

____ 1） Centipedes live in soil.

____ 2） Sometimes there are tunnels in soil.

____ 3） All composting is done by people.

____ 4） Many different kinds of creatures live in soil.

____ 5） Most animals that live in soil are insects.