Reading Comprehension 4

TOEFL MODEL T EST : Reading Comprehension 4

T he body of an adult insect is subdivided into three sections, including a head, a three-segment thorax, and
segmented abdomen. Ordinarily, the thorax bears three pairs of legs and a single or double pair of wings. T he
vision of most adult insects is specialized through two large compound eyes and multiple simple eyes.

Features of an insects mouth parts are used in classifying insects into types. Biting mouth parts, called mandibles,
such as the mouth parts found in grasshoppers and beetles, are common among insects. Behind the mandibles are
located the maxillae, or lower jaw parts, which serve to direct food into the mouth between the jaws. A labrum
above and one below are similar to another animals upper and lower lips. In an insect with a sucking mouth
function, the mandibles, maxillae, labrum, and labium are modified in such a way that they constitute a tube
through which liquid such as water, blood, or flower nectar can be drawn. In a butterfly or moth, this coiled drinking
tube is called the proboscis because of its resemblance, in miniature, to the trunk of an elephant or a very large
nose. Composed chiefly of modified maxillae fitted together, the insects proboscis can be flexed and extended to
reach nectar deep in a flower. In mosquitoes or aphids, mandibles and maxillae are modified to sharp stylets with
which the insect can drill through surfaces like human or vegetable skin membranes to reach juice. In a housefly,
the expanding labium forms a spongelike mouth pad that it can use to stamp over the surface of food, sopping up
food particles and juices.

Insects, the most numerous creatures on our planet, are also them most adaptable. T hey require little food because
they are small. T hey easily find shelter and protection in small crevices in trees and surface geological formations.
Species of insects can evolve quickly because of their rapid reproduction cycle; they live in every climate, some
making their homes in the frozen Arctic regions and many others choosing the humid, warm, and nutrient-rich rain
forest environment. An active part of the natural food cycle, insects provide nutrition for animals and dev our waste
products of other life forms.

1. List new v ocabulary w ith their meaning:

Abdomen : the parts of the body between the thorax and the pelvis
Ordinarily : adj. normal; usual; average
Bears : have; show; ~ the make (signs, traces) of blows (wounds, punishment).
Compound : mix together (to mat sth. New or different)
Multiple : having many parts or elements.
Biting : cut into with the teeth.
Mandibles : either half of the upper pair of jaws used for biting and seizing.
Grasshopper : n. jumping insect which makes a shrill, chirping noise.
Upper : higher in place.
Sucking : into the mouth by the use of the lip muscles.
Nectar : sweet liquid in flowers.
Drawn : move by pulling.
Coiled : length of wire wound in a spiral t0 conduct electric current.
Proboscis : elongated part of the mouth of some insects.
Resemblance : likeness; similarity
Trunk : long nose of elephant.
Chiefly : above all; mostly; mainly.
Fitted : be in a suitable time or place for;
Extended : make longer.

2. Ideas of each paragraph :

Answer:

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Reading Comprehension 4

1. Paragraph 1: T he body of an adult insect is subdivided into three sections, head, three segment thorax and
segmented abdomen. Insect normally have three paris of legs, single or sometimes pair of wings, two multiple
eyes.
2. Paragraph 2: Features of the insect body such as mouth parts, upper and lower jaw, labrum, and also labium,
made them available to drill through surfaces of the vegetable skin membranes to reach to juice and fulfill their
daily basis.
3. Paragraph 3: Insects is the most numerous creatures as well as the most adaptable living creatures, they find
shelter in small crevices in trees or between the surface geological formations. Some of them choose to live in
the frozen arctic regions and some of them in the rich rainforest environment.

3. Answ er questions giv en:

1. What is the best title for this passage?

A. An Insects Environment
B. The Structure of an Insect
C. Grasshoppers and Beetles
D. T he Stages of Life of an Insect
2. How are insects classified?
A. By the environment in which they live
B. By the food they eat
C. By the structure of the mouth
D. By the number and type of wings
3. T he word common in paragraph 2 is closest in meaning to
A. normal C. important
B. rare D. necessary
4. T he author compares labrum and labium to
A. an upper and lower lip C. maxillae
B. mandibles D. jaws

5. What is the proboscis?

A. Nectar
B. A tube constructed of modified maxillae
C. A kind of butterfly
D. A kind of flower
6. Which of the following have mandibles and maxillae that have been modified to sharp stylets?
A. Grasshoppers C. Mosquitoes
B. Butterflies D. Houseflies
7. T he phrase drill through in paragraph 2 could best be replaced by
A. penetrate C. explore
B. saturate D. distinguish
8. T he word it in paragraph 2 refers to
A. pad C. housefly
B. food D. mouth
9. What is the purpose of this passage?
A. To complain C. To entertain
B. To persuade D. To inform

4. Make a summary of the passage

Insects adult body was subdivided into three sections, head, three segments of thorax and segmented abdoment.

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Reading Comprehension 4

Features of insect body allow they to drill through surfaces of the vegetables or flower skin membranes to reach to
the juice. Other then they are very large quantities, some of the insects choose to find shelter in the small crevices
in tress and some others between the surface of the geological formations.

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