Arizona Argument: Coyote vs. Pekari
Arizona Argument
Characters:
- Coyote
- Pekari
(Scene: A sunny patch of desert in Arizona. Coyote is lounging under a saguaro cactus. Pekari trots in, looking busy.)
Coyote: Well, well, well. Look what the desert dragged in. If it isn't Percy Pekari, the busiest creature in Arizona. What's got you in such a tizzy today?
Pekari: (Huffily) I'm gathering prickly pear fruit, of course! It’s the best food Arizona has to offer. A fine, nutritious meal. What are you doing, lounging around as usual?
Coyote: Relaxing and enjoying the view! And thinking. Thinking about how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful state. And how tasty those lizards are.
Pekari: Lizards? Really, Coyote? Prickly pear is far superior. It’s juicy, it’s sweet, it’s…prickly!
Coyote: (Chuckles) Prickly is right. Give me a plump lizard any day. Now that's a delicacy. Besides, Arizona's beauty isn't about what you eat. It's about the wide-open spaces and the amazing sunsets.
Pekari: Open spaces? I prefer the cozy shade of the mesquite trees. And the sunsets? Too much orange! I like the green of the desert after a good rain. It’s soothing.
Coyote: Soothing? Where’s your sense of adventure, Percy? Arizona is about the thrill of the chase, the howl of the wind, the mystery of the mountains!
- Saguaros:
- A very large, tall type of cactus.
- Mesquite:
- A tree or shrub that grows in hot areas.
- Delicacy:
- A rare or expensive food that is seen as very good.
- tizzy:
- a state of being nervous, excited, or worried
- nutritious:
- containing healthy ingredients that help the body grow and stay strong
- superior:
- better or higher in quality than something else
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1What is Pekari doing at the beginning of the scene?
- 2What does Coyote say is the best part of living in Arizona?
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About this reader's theater passage for Upper Elementary
“Arizona Argument: Coyote vs. Pekari” is a reader's theater reading passage about Arizona Wildlife, written for Upper Elementary. It takes about 2 minutes to read (361 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.