Question

fill in the blanks to compare and contrast puffer fish, hedgehogs, and pangolins.
puffer fish, hedgehogs, and pangolins are similar because they all defend themselves with protective outside parts. they are different because puffer fish defend themselves by looking dropdown, while hedgehogs dropdown ins curl themselves
puffer fish stick out their spines and gulp in water until they look like large spiky balls that would be impossible to swallow.
unlike the puffer fish, a hedgehog curls itself up into a prickly ball when it senses danger. its sharp spines will poke the tender nose of anything that tries to eat the hedgehog.
the pangolin is covered in hard, scaly plates that are like a suit of armor. when threatened, it also rolls itself up into a bite - proof ball.
puffer fish, hedgehogs, and pangolins all have outer defenses.

Explanation:

To fill the blank about how puffer fish defend themselves, we analyze the text: "Puffer fish stick out their spines and gulp in water until they look like large spiky balls". This means they make themselves look "larger" to defend. The other options ("wetter" is about moisture, "smaller" is opposite) don't fit. For the hedgehog part, the text says "a hedgehog curls itself up", so the verb is "curl".

Answer:

1. For the puffer fish blank: larger
2. For the hedgehog blank: curl