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Question 1: Describe the problem faced by the citizens of Leith.

Sample student answer: The problem faced by the citizens of Leith was the danger of flooding. If it rained too much, the river would swell with rainwater and flood the town.

Question 2: Why might the citizens of Leith have chosen to bring in beavers to solve their problem instead of constructing a large dam or wall? Support your answer with evidence from the text.

Sample student answer: They may have chosen to bring in beavers because everyone in town loved nature and animals. Additionally, they may have recognized that a single concrete dam or wall would not be as useful as several dams built (and maintained) by beavers. They may also have felt that the dams built by beavers would be more beautiful than anything constructed from concrete by humans.

Question 3: How did bringing in beavers help solve the problem in Leith?

Sample student answer: The beavers that were brought in created natural dams that prevented the river from flooding when there was heavy rain.

Question 4: Describe the problems faced by those in the village of Hargigo.

Sample student answer: The problems in Hargigo included poverty and hunger. Because the climate was so dry and there was little rain, it was hard for leafy plants to grow, so the animals in Hargigo did not have enough to eat. As a result, there were not enough healthy animals for the people of Hargigo to eat, sell, and use for the production of milk.

Question 5: What was one positive effect of planting mangrove trees in Hargigo?

Sample student answer: One positive effect of planting mangrove trees in Hargigo was that the animals of Hargigo had more healthy food nearby to eat, so they lived longer. (Other positive effects include, but are not limited to, the following: those who planted the trees had a way to earn money close to home, the trees provided more oxygen and helped the environment, the trees provided fuel for cooking fires, and the tree roots attracted more fish for people to eat and sell.)

Question 6: How did planting mangrove trees help solve the problems in Hargigo?

Sample student answer: The mangrove trees that were planted in Hargigo provided food for sheep and goats, and the tree roots attracted bigger fish to the shore. As a result, the people of Hargigo had more sheep, goats, and fish that provided more food, milk, and income for the people in Hargigo, solving the problems of hunger and poverty.

Question 7: In “Bring in the Beavers!” the people of Leith worked with nature to solve their problem by bringing in beavers to build dams. Explain whether the people of Hargigo also worked with nature to solve their problems in “The Mangrove Tree.”

Sample student answer: The people of Hargigo worked with nature to solve their problems in the “The Mangrove Tree”. They did so by planting mangrove trees to help provide food for animals, attract fish, and create more ways for the people of Hargigo to earn money.

Question 8: What are some benefits of working with nature to solve problems? Support your answer using evidence from both texts.

Sample student answer: One benefit of working with nature to solve problems is that nature can be more beautiful than man-made solutions. For example, the beaver dams in “Bring in the Beavers!” were more beautiful than a concrete structure would have been. Additionally, working with nature can have positive effects beyond the immediate problem and can help solve multiple problems at once. For example, the mangrove trees helped address both of Hargigo’s major problems in multiple ways, but also help the environment by releasing oxygen, and are used as fuel by villagers. Furthermore, solutions from nature may last longer without needing humans to make repairs or adjustments. For instance, the beavers will build and maintain their own dams in the river near Leith as long as they are there, because that is what they do naturally.