Amazing Acorns Quiz

Read the dictionary entry for the word secure.

secure \si-kyu˙r\verb

1. to place something where it will not move

2. to get something as a result of trying

3. to make certain or sure of

4. to promise payment of

Which definition most closely fits the way the word secured is used in paragraph 4?

• Definition 1

• Definition 2

• Definition 3

• Definition 4

Which fact in the selection is best supported by the last photograph?

• Acorn weevils are the first insects to live in acorns.

• Acorn weevil larvae eat the inside of the acorn.

• Acorn weevils can use their snouts to drill holes in acorns.

• Acorn weevil larvae are inside an acorn when it falls from the tree.

Based on the selection, the reader can conclude that acorns —

• are similar to many other types of nuts that people eat

• must be properly prepared before humans can eat them

• are becoming rare because many animals use them

• can cause serious damage when they fall off trees

What is the best summary of the selection?

• Acorns are nuts which drop from oak trees in the fall. People have found ways to prepare and eat acorns for many years. Some animals, including several types of insects, use acorns for food and even for shelter.

• Acorns usually drop from trees before colored leaves do. They hit everything beneath them and are often gathered by squirrels. At certain points in history, they were also gathered, prepared, and eaten by people.

• The ancient Romans, Native Americans, and Pilgrims all ate acorns. Some animals also use acorns in interesting ways. However, the Native Americans were the only ones who thought of using acorns for medicine.

• Native Americans used to prepare baskets of acorns. Animals such as the acorn woodpecker may hide many acorns in dead trees or telephone poles. The acorn weevil and the acorn moth lay their eggs in or near an acorn.

Which statement best describes how baby acorn weevils know that it is time to leave their acorn homes?

• They finish eating all the nut meat inside of the acorn.

• An adult acorn weevil drills a new hole in the acorn.

• The acorn drops from the oak tree to the ground below.

• The weather becomes so warm that no acorn shelter is needed.

The photograph of the acorn woodpecker and the information in paragraph 6 best support the idea that the woodpecker —

• uses acorns to attract the insects it likes to eat

• will lay its eggs inside the acorn-filled tree

• prefers sweet-tasting acorns to bitter ones

• is creating storage for many acorns