activity of text interpretation, aimed at students in the fifth year of elementary school, about parasitoid insects. Ever heard of these insects? No? Shall we learn about them? So, read the text carefully! Then answer the various interpretative questions proposed!
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SCHOOL: DATE:
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Read:
What do fleas, lice and roundworms have in common? All are parasitic animals, that is, they feed on other living beings. In general, they do not cause the death of their hosts (the animals they feed on).
Insects called parasitoids act in a different and much more complex way. In general, it all starts with the mother insect looking for a place to lay her eggs. And this place is just another insect!
From the egg, a parasitoid larva will be born, which will feed on the host insect. It can consume non-vital parts of the host's body first, keeping it alive longer. Thus, this larva has enough time to grow and develop into an adult parasitoid.
But in the end, the host insect is doomed to die. Your body will have fed one, two or even hundreds of new parasitoids that will continue the life cycle of the species.
Most parasitoid insects are wasps or flies, but there are also beetles and other groups with this behavior.
For us humans, the relationship between the parasitoid and its host can seem like a horror movie. However, in nature there are no villains or good guys. Parasitoidism helps maintain balance by regulating the number of host insects. A butterfly lays dozens of eggs. Can you imagine what it would be like if everyone became new butterflies?
The parasitoids began to be used by humans against insects that cause damage to the farmer, the so-called agricultural 'pests'. Wasps, flies and other parasitoids act as natural enemies of these insects that threaten agricultural production. They are created in the laboratory and spread in plantations to control the amount of caterpillars, aphids and other insect pests.
The use of parasitoids and other natural enemies is a way to avoid the use of insecticides, which can contaminate plants, people and the environment.
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(Fragment with cut and adaptation).
Question 1 – According to the text, most parasitoids are:
( ) beetles.
( ) wasps and flies.
( ) caterpillars, aphids and other insect pests.
Question 2 – In the passage “Insects called parasitoids act in a different and much more complex way.”, the text:
( ) makes a correction.
( ) presents an opinion.
( ) establishes a comparison.
Question 3 – Underline below the word used to introduce a purpose:
“In general, it all starts with the mother insect looking for a place to lay her eggs.”
Question 4 – The excerpt “From the egg, a parasitoid larva will be born, which will feed on the host insect.” It is:
( ) a narration.
( ) a description.
( ) an argument.
Question 5 – According to the text, “in the end, the host insect is doomed to die”. Identify the reason:
( ) “The parasitoid larva may first consume the non-vital parts of the host's body”.
( ) “[…] the larva-parasitoid has enough time to develop into an adult parasitoid”.
( ) “Your body will have fed one, two or even hundreds of new parasitoids […]”
Question 6 – In “Parasitoidism helps to maintain balance because regulates the number of host insects.”, the highlighted verb could be replaced by:
Question 7 – In the segment “[…] they can contaminate plants, people and the environment.”, the text refers to:
( ) to insecticides.
( ) to parasitoids.
( ) to other natural enemies.
By Denyse Lage Fonseca
Graduated in Letters and specialist in distance education.