Why Do Cats Purr?
A fact text about cat purring: how the sound is made and why cats purr even when they are not happy.
Tap any word to hear it · dotted words have a definition in the glossary
🎧 Listen
1Most cat owners know the sound: a soft, low from a happy cat sitting on their . This sound is called . But how do cats purr, and why?
2Scientists believe that the purr starts in the cat's brain. The brain sends messages to muscles in the cat's . These muscles open and close very quickly, about 25 to 150 times every second, and the air that moves through them makes the sound. Cats purr when they in and when they out, so the sound almost never stops.
3Cats often purr when they are happy and relaxed. begin to purr when they are only a few days old, and this tells their mother that they are fine. But cats also purr when they are hurt, sick or afraid. Some scientists think that helps cats calm down.
4So the next time your cat purrs, listen carefully. It may be saying "I'm happy," or it may be asking for help.
📘 Glossary
- rumble - a low, deep sound
- lap - the flat top of your legs when you sit
- purring - the soft sound a cat makes
- throat - the inside of the neck
- breathe - to take air in and out
- kittens - baby cats
Questions
Finding details
1. Where does the purr start, according to scientists?Finding details
2. Complete: The muscles in the throat open and close about ______ times every second.Finding details
3. Why does the purring sound almost never stop?Reference words
4. In paragraph 3, the word "this" in "this tells their mother" refers to…Finding details
5. Cats don't purr only when they are happy. Give TWO other situations when cats purr.Fact, opinion and stance
6. "Some scientists think that purring helps cats calm down." This sentence is…Main idea
7. What is the main message of the last paragraph?Word meaning
8. Copy the word from paragraph 1 that means "a deep, continuous sound".
Answer every question to get a score (0/8)
More Grade 7 passages
Saving the Baby TurtlesA fact text about sea turtles that lay eggs on Israel's beaches, and the volunteers who protect the nests until the babies hatch.Too Short for the Team?A personal story about Lily, the shortest girl in her class, who trained hard to get into the school basketball team.Volunteers Wanted: Reading BuddiesA notice inviting older students to volunteer and read stories with first-grade children.Ben's RobotA story about Ben, who built a robot for the science fair, and what happened when it did not work at the key moment.Up, Up and AwayA fact text about hot-air balloons: why hot air rises, who flew first and how the pilot controls the balloon.Join the Class Cooking Contest!An email from the class committee inviting students to a cooking contest: the rules, the prizes and what not to bring.Dear Diary: My First DayA diary entry by Noa, who moved house and started at a new school: her fear, her embarrassment and a nice surprise.My First Day at the Dog ShelterA personal story about Shira, 13, who volunteers at a dog shelter for the first time and bonds with an old dog named Lucky.Why Is the Dead Sea So Salty?A short fact text explaining how water evaporates and salt stays behind in the Dead Sea, and why it is easy to float there.Grade 7 Trip to the GalileeA notice for students and parents about the Grade 7 trip to the Galilee: what happens each day, what to bring and which rules to follow.Hello from Toronto!An email from Mia, who moved with her family to Toronto, to her cousin Lily about the snow, her new school and a new friend.Hunting with SoundA short fact text explaining how bats use high sounds and echoes to find insects in the dark.The King Who Was AfraidA story about Dan, who gets the part of a king in the class play and is afraid to go on stage, and the idea that helps him.Meet the Robot BuilderA short school-newspaper interview with Max, 14, who builds Lego robots and tells how he started and what his advice is.A Night Under the Desert SkyA diary page about a family camping night near Mitzpe Ramon: a sky full of stars, the Milky Way and a shooting star.How Do Penguins Keep Warm?A short fact text explaining how penguins stay warm with fat, feathers and standing close together in a group.Let's Make Music!A notice about a weekend music workshop for kids at a community centre: what they do, when, how much it costs and what to bring.The Wallet on the BusA story about Omer, who found a wallet on the bus and returned it to its owner, and learned what was really important inside it.The Night the Lights Went OutA diary entry by a girl from Karmiel about a power cut on a stormy night that became a lovely family evening.Why Do We Have Seasons?A short fact text explaining that the seasons happen because the Earth is tilted, not because of its distance from the Sun.A Letter to the PrincipalA letter from a seventh-grade girl to the school principal, asking for a water fountain in the yard and explaining why.Grandpa OnlineA personal story about Yael, who taught her grandfather from the kibbutz to make video calls, and now they talk every week.The Blue Book BoxA short interview with Ella, a 13-year-old from Modi'in who started a book swap cupboard in her neighbourhood.Never Too LateA simple personal story about Anna, a 12-year-old who overcame her fear and learned to swim.How Do Bees Make Honey?A short fact text that explains, step by step, how honeybees turn nectar from flowers into honey.Maya's Bird CaféA short article about Maya, an 11-year-old who built a bird feeder from old things she found at home.Lost Rabbit Found in School GardenA light news report about a pet rabbit that escaped from its cage and was found eating lettuce in a school garden.My Review: A Class Trip to Green Hills Nature ReserveA review by a student about a class trip to a (made-up) nature reserve: what was good, what was not, and what advice she gives.Every School Needs a Recycling ContestAn opinion article by a student who argues that every school should have a recycling contest, with reasons and an opposing view.