Monarch Butterflies and Citizen Science

Next, he planted rows of flowering plants called milkweed—monarchs’ main source of food. (paragraph 2) Over the past four years, Carter has raised and tagged more than 700 monarch butterflies. (paragraph 16)

What can the reader infer about Carter based on these sentences?

• Carter sees many types of insects in his backyard all year long.

• Carter has expanded the area that he uses to host butterflies.

• Carter’s efforts to help butterflies have been successful.

• Carter’s backyard is a place for citizen scientists to meet.

Which sentence from the selection best supports the controlling idea that monarchs depend on human help?

• He wanted to create a way station for monarch butterflies. (paragraph 1)

• Every fall, millions of monarchs fly up to 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles) from Canada and the United States to Mexico. (paragraph 3)

• The older butterflies die, and their offspring continue north. (paragraph 6)

• By planting butterfly gardens, they’re restoring the habitat monarchs need to survive. (paragraph 15)

What can the reader conclude based on information in both paragraphs 2 and 8?

• Milkweed that the monarchs depend on is a threat to farmers’ crops.

• Monarchs are beginning to rely on food sources other than milkweed.

• Migrating monarchs are often unable to find the milkweed they need.

• Milkweed is more available in the United States than it is in Mexico.

What key idea is supported by the details in paragraphs 12 and 13?

• People enjoy participating in efforts to track the monarchs.

• Advanced technology is required to track migration paths of monarchs.

• Monarch Watch uses photography as a main method of counting monarchs.

• Young monarch watchers are often trained by older researchers.

In paragraph 9, the words “Luckily” and “important allies” contribute to the author’s voice by showing —

• doubt that monarchs are truly in danger of extinction

• frustration that monarchs sometimes lack the resources they need

• hope that people will do what is needed to save monarchs

• wonder about whether the attempts to save monarchs will be unsuccessful

What does the information in paragraphs 1 through 4 help the reader understand?

• People can most help monarch butterflies by clearing areas for monarchs to lay eggs.

• Creating way stations for monarch butterflies is very costly.

• Monarch butterflies can mainly be found in mountainous areas.

• A problem faced by monarch butterflies is beginning to receive public attention.

How does the selection’s problem-solution organizational structure most contribute to the author’s purpose?

• By detailing concerns that young people have when trying to raise money to build gardens for monarchs

• By explaining the difficulties citizen scientists encounter when trying to locate monarchs

• By emphasizing how restoring monarch habitats can help bring back the monarch population

• By showing reasons why researchers are unable to gather enough data about the health of the monarch population

Look at this map. Monarch Butterfly Migration Chart What is the most likely reason the author includes the map in the selection?

• To show that the monarch population that flies south is not the same generation that flies north

• To illustrate how monarch migration routes are affected by the availability of milkweed

• To show why the monarch population has been decreasing over the years

• To highlight that monarchs tend to use the same routes year after year

Which sentence best supports the idea that helping monarchs requires a large amount of effort?

• This yearly migration is one of the most impressive in the animal kingdom, but its future is uncertain. (paragraph 4)

• Over the past 60 years, thousands of people have helped scientists study these incredible insects. (paragraph 9)

• But a butterfly scientist named Fred Urquhart had a plan. (paragraph 10)

• Others share photos online. (paragraph 12)