Reading and vocabulary. Binturong

A 40-pound mammal creeps along a tree branch in a steamy forest. The animal looks like a cross between a cat and a bear. And its appearance isn’t even its strangest quality. What’s even weirder is the creature's smell: It gives off the scent of buttered popcorn! This is the binturong, an animal that's full of surprises.

Binturongs live in the             of Southeast Asia. They belong to a family of carnivorous mammals that also includes        . The animals spend most of their time hanging out in the          . When they aren’t lounging on branches, they’re looking for yummy        such as insects, birds, and fruit.

The animal uses its      —which is almost as long as its body—like a fifth limb as it climbs through the forest. This tail is prehensile, which means it’s capable of gripping        . The binturong is one of only two carnivores that has a prehensile tail. (The other is the kinkajou.) By grasping onto          and trunks with the furry extension, the binturong is able to move more easily along the trees.

As they travel, binturongs      [rub, rubs] a pungent substance produced in their scent glands      [on, onto] branches and foliage. The animals use the odor to mark territory as well    [so, as] to attract mates. The substance smells      [as, like] buttery popcorn. With all its cool qualities, you definitely can't turn your nose      [down, up] at this odd-smelling animal!