Activity of text interpretation, aimed at fifth-year students, about singing insects. Many insects produce sounds, but only some of them can be heard by humans.. Are we going to learn more about this very interesting subject? So, read the text carefully! Then answer the various interpretative questions proposed!
You can download this text comprehension activity in an editable Word template ready to print to PDF and also the answer activity.
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SCHOOL: DATE:
PROF: CLASS:
NAME:
Read:
You probably know the noise of a cicada or a cricket. But have you ever wondered why these insects sing and others don't? […]
Many insects produce sounds, but only a few of them can be heard by man. To get the following explanation, you need to know that hertz (Hz) is the unit of measure of sound. Now, understand: our hearing aid picks up sounds in the frequency of 20Hz to 20,000Hz, while the insects produce sounds at a frequency ranging from 1Hz to 100kHz. That's why we only hear a few insects.
The sound of each species is unique, fundamental for adult males to communicate with adult females of their species […] In addition, the "singing" is also important for communication between insects of different species, it can sound like an alert to defend themselves against predators.
The sound produced by insects can come from the expulsion of air through the spiracles (holes located on the side of the body, responsible for breathing), which is a common mechanism in cockroaches and butterflies. Percussion is another form of sound production and is characterized by hitting against damp wood, a method used by termites and beetles. The flapping of wings is another way to make the sound echo and is common among bees, flies and mosquitoes (anyone who has been disturbed by the hum of a mosquito at bedtime knows what it is!). Grasshoppers produce sound by squeaking, that is, by rubbing their legs. The chirping of crickets and hopes is different, it comes from the friction of the wings.
The eardrums are the membranes responsible for capturing sound by insects, and in cicadas the eardrums also serve to produce sound. That's it: that unmistakable noise of cicadas results from sequences of contraction and relaxation of the eardrums of these animals. Who would have thought, huh?!
Carina Marciela Mews and Neucir Szinwelski.
“Ciência Hoje das Crianças” magazine. Edition 187.
Available in:. (With cuts).
Question 1 - In “But have you ever wondered why these insects sing and others don't?”, which insects do the authors refer to?
Question 2 - In the segment “Many insects produce sounds, but only some of them can be heard by man.”, the highlighted term could be replaced by:
( ) "because".
( ) "although".
( ) "that is why".
Question 3 - The part “[…] hertz (Hz) is the unit of measurement of sound.” It's:
( ) a deduction.
( ) a definition.
( ) a conclusion.
Question 4 – Reread this text fragment:
"Furthermore, 'singing' is also important for communication between insects of different species [...]"
The word “to” introduces:
( ) a destiny.
( ) one direction.
( ) a purpose.
Question 5 - What is the sound production method used by termites and beetles?
( ) percussion.
( ) the flapping of wings.
( ) the expulsion of air through the spiracles.
Question 6 – Identify the insects that, according to the authors of the text, "produce sound by rubbing their legs":
( ) crickets.
( ) hopes.
( ) locusts.
Question 7 – The text on insects aims to:
( ) explain something.
( ) make an alert.
( ) tell a story.
Per Denyse Lage Fonseca
Graduated in Languages and specialist in distance education.
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