Geography
Read the article "The Wolves Among Us".Beagles, greyhounds, German shepherds, and even tiny toy poodles are all related to the same majestic wild animal, the wolf. In fact, all domestic dogs are descended from wolves. There are several species of wolf, including the gray wolf, the arctic wolf, the red wolf, the white wolf, and the Mexican wolf. Wolves are some of the most widespread mammals. Populations of wolves exist in almost as many places around the globe as humans do.Wolves are exceptional pack hunters. This is why they are able to take down large prey such as moose or deer by working together as a seamless team. Wolf pups as young as eight months old begin helping on the hunt. Wolves can reach speeds of up to 40 miles per hour when chasing prey, and their thick, double-coated fur enables them to keep warm in even the coldest arctic temperatures. Their large, powerful paws can reach up to 5 inches across and help to propel them quickly across the snow.Next time you're playing fetch with your furry friend, think about its ancestor, the wolf. That terrier or pug might only be able to take down a ball or a bone, but it gained its instincts to chase and hunt from those greatest of hunters, the wolves.Read the article "The Necessity of Hybrids".What do you get if you cross two different species? Depending upon the species, you might end up with a grolar bear, a wolfdog, or a Savannah cat, among many others. What do these animals have in common? They're hybrids. Sometimes hybrids happen naturally in the wild, but usually, hybrids are the result of humans selectively breeding animals.Grolar bears and pizzlies are the result of crossing polar bears and grizzly bears. These hybrids were first seen in zoos, as the bears' natural habitats did not normally overlap. Recently, these hybrids have started appearing in the wild. Due to climate change, the bears' once-separate habitats are beginning to overlap. Bigger and more aggressive than their parents, grolar bears and pizzlies could pose a risk to natural habitats and humans.Wolfdogs are, as their name suggests, the result of crossing a wolf with a domestic dog. Bred for the pet trade, these hybrids do not often happen in the wild. Wolfdogs do not make good pets, however, as they can be destructive and aggressive. Many states have outlawed keeping wolfdogs because they can pose a danger to people.Savannah cats are another example of human-made hybrids that were developed to be pets. Savannahs are the result of crossing a small wildcat called a serval with a domestic housecat. They look like miniature versions of the wildcat, which is why many people like keeping them as pets. Like the wolfdog, however, Savannahs do not make ideal house pets. They can be destructive, and usually, they keep the wild nature of the serval.There are many more examples of human-made hybrid animals. Some hybrids, such as the mule, have been helpful to humans. Unfortunately, others, like the wolfdog or Savannah cat, should not have been made in the first place.How is the overall structure of "The Wolves Among Us" similar to the structure of "The Necessity of Hybrids"? Both articles use the cause and effect text structure. Both articles use the chronological text structure. Both articles use the compare and contrast text structure. Both articles use the problem and solution text structure.