ACTIVITY
Read the text and answer the
questions about it.
When we are young, we learn that
tigers and sharks are dangerous animals. We might be scared of them because
they are big and powerful. As we get older, however, we learn that sometimes
the most dangerous animals are also the smallest animals. In fact, the animal
that kills the most people every year is one that you have probably killed
yourself many times: the mosquito.
While it may seem that all
mosquitoes are biters, this is not actually the case. Male mosquitoes eat plant
nectar. On the other hand, female mosquitoes feed on animal blood. They need
this blood to live and produce eggs. When a female mosquito bites a human
being, it transmits a small amount of saliva into the blood. This saliva may or
may not contain a deadly disease. The result of the bite can be as minor as an
itchy bump or as serious as death.
Because a mosquito can bite many
people in the course of its life, it can carry diseases from one person to
another very easily. Two of the most deadly diseases carried by mosquitoes are
malaria and yellow fever. More than 700 million people become sick from these
diseases every year. At least 2 million of these people will die from these
diseases.
Many scientists are working
on safer and better ways to kill mosquitoes, but so far, there is no sure way
to protect everyone in the world from their deadly bites. Mosquito nets can be
placed over beds to protect people against being bitten. These nets help people
stay safe at night, but they do not kill any mosquitoes. Mosquitoes have many
natural enemies like bats, birds, dragonflies, and certain kinds of fish.
Bringing more of these animals into places where mosquitoes live might help to
cut down the amount of mosquitoes in that area. This is a natural solution, but
it does not always work very well. Mosquitoes can also be killed with poisons
or sprays. Even though these sprays kill mosquitoes, they may also harm other
plants or animals.
Although mosquitoes may not
seem as scary as larger, more powerful animals, they are far more dangerous to
human beings. But things are changing. It is highly likely that one day
scientists will find a way to keep everyone safe from mosquitoes and the
diseases they carry.
Questions
1) According to the author, some
people are more afraid of tigers and sharks than mosquitoes because tigers and
sharks
A. kill more people than
mosquitoes
B. are big and powerful
C. are found all over the world
D. have no natural enemies
2) Based on the information in
paragraph 2, we can understand that
I. male mosquitoes and female
mosquitoes have different eating habits
II. male mosquitoes are harmless to
humans
III. female mosquitoes are
responsible for transmitting diseases to humans
A. I only
B. I and II only
C. II and III only
D. I, II, and III © Copyright Read
Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved.
3) In paragraph 2 the author
writes, "This saliva may or may not contain a deadly disease." The
purpose of this statement is to
A. oppose a previous argument
B. question an upcoming conclusion
C. confirm a hypothesis
D. support a later statement
4) As used in paragraph 2,
minor most nearly means
A. insignificant
B. deadly
C. frustrating
D. dangerous
5) Based on information in
paragraph 3, it can be understood that if you get sick with malaria or yellow
fever, your chances of survival are
A. terrible
B. mediocre
C. good
D. excellent
6) It can be understood that the
introduction of dragonflies might reduce the number of flies in a given area
because dragonflies
A. work together with
mosquitoes
B. kill mosquitoes
C. cannot be killed by poisons or
sprays
D. attract bats
7) Which of the following best
summarizes the information in paragraph 4?
A. Mosquito nets provide adequate
protection from deadly mosquitoes.
B. Poisons and sprays provide
adequate protection from deadly mosquitoes.
C. The introduction of the
mosquito's natural enemies provides adequate protection from deadly mosquitoes.
D. There is no perfect solution to
the mosquito problem.
8) Which of the following words
best describes the author's overall attitude towards the prospect of solving
the mosquito problem?
A. despondent, meaning hopeless or
dejected
B. exasperated, meaning extremely
irritated or annoyed
C. equivocal, meaning doubtful or
uncertain
D. optimistic,
meaning hopeful or taking a favorable view