Hope for Animals and Their World

Which detail best illustrates the author’s perspective on her subject?

•  “Cockroaches are loathed.”

• “Lou calls them ‘nature’s most efficient recyclers’. . . .”

•  “How absolutely amazing—an insect species in which mother and father care for their young together!”

•  “In many places people feast on termites, locusts, and beetle larvae. . . .”

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.8.6

Which is a valid cause-and-effect relationship identified by the author?

• The Endangered Species Act accelerates the decline of insects such as the burying beetle.

• Orange mites ensure the survival of beetle larvae by eliminating competition for the carrion.

• Populations of prairie chickens and passenger pigeons have been reduced by the loss of the burying beetle.

• The use of pesticides has devastated the global bee populations.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.3

CCSS.RI.5.3

CCSS.RI.6.3

CCSS.RI.7.3

CCSS.RI.8.3

The author includes technical terms, such as carrion and pheromones, in order to

• convey information about the beetles to readers.

• enable readers to visualize the beetles.

• create a positive view of the beetles for readers.

• persuade readers to reject her statistics about beetles.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

CCSS.RI.8.9

CCSS.RL.8.6

Read the following excerpt from the text:

“And by burying carcasses underground, this industrious beetle helps keep flies and ants from reaching epidemic proportions.”

How does this word choice industrious impact the meaning of the text?

• It shows how much effort goes unnoticed by those who only regard insects as “creepy-crawlies”

• This word choice sets a formal tone and creates a vivid picture of an efficient, hard working beetle

• It provides evidence that beetles should not be loathed but rather commended

• It explains the job of the beetle that might otherwise have gone undetected by humans

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.6

CCSS.RI.11-12.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.6

CCSS.RI.8.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.6

What problem affected the team’s release of beetles bred in captivity?

• The beetles' carrion was preyed upon by crows and seagulls.

• The beetles could not be safely transported to new sites.

• Tourists damaged the habitats on Nantucket Island.

• Scavengers dug up and destroyed the orange location flags.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

What main idea emerges through the author’s narration of her conversation with Lou in the last part of the text?

• Many adults are more closed to the wonders of the natural world than children.

• The efforts of both children and adults are necessary if the burying beetle is to survive.

• Conservation is not worth spending time and money on because it is a losing battle.

• While Lou enjoys teaching children, the author prefers speaking with adults.

Tags

CCSS.RI. 9-10.2

CCSS.RI.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.11-12.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

Read the excerpt from the text:

“Others, such as spiders, are the inadvertent cause of fear--even terror. Cockroaches are loathed. Hundreds of species are persecuted for the role they play. . .”

As used in the sentence, what word is related to loathe?

• despise

• reluctant

• postpone

• love

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which set of words from the text have a positive connotation?

• fascination, fickle, creepy-crawlies

• bugs, mosquitoes, cockroaches

• passionately, loved, supportive

• carrion, fear, terror

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

After two weeks of feeding, the sated beetle larvae are full and burrow into the soil to pupate, and the parents move on.

As used in the sentence, what does sate mean?

• thwarted

• forgotten

• gratified

• ignored

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

What does pollinate mean as used in the text?

"Bees pollinate the vast majority of our food crops, and the current devastation of hives in North America and Europe is causing real anxiety."

• produce pollen

• transfer pollen

• remove pollen

• deposit pollen

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4