If you have ever been to countries in Asia, Africa, or the Caribbean, you may have encountered an animal called the mongoose. Although mongooses are as common as squirrels and can sometimes resemble them, the two are not related. They are also not related to geese.
There are more than 35 mongoose species in the world. They mostly live in southern Asia, Africa and southern Europe. They have also been known to live on some Caribbean and Hawaiian islands. However, they were brought to those islands by people.
Mongooses can be tiny, or they can be the size of household pets. The dwarf mongoose is the same size as a squirrel at almost 10 ounces. The white-tailed mongoose can grow to be more than 9 lbs. This is about the size of a cat.
Egyptian mongooses are known to live alone. Africa’s meerkat (a smaller species of mongoose) lives in groups. Some species of mongoose are even kept as pets and used to control the rodent population. However, mongooses sometimes destroy plant life. That is why it is illegal to import them into the United States.
Interestingly enough, mongooses cannot be affected by some poisonous snake venom. Indian mongooses are sometimes used to fight and kill snakes like cobras. Mongooses can do this because they are quick, light on their feet, and have thick skin.
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Which of the following statements best describes the organization of this article?
A.
This article tells a story by following a progression through a period in time.
B.
This article uses cause and effect to describe how mongooses destroyed plants.
C.
The article compares and contrasts various events that happened to mongooses.
D.
The article takes a larger category and divides into several smaller groups.
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