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COLLECTING ANT SPECIMENS
QUESTIONS 27-30: DO THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS AGREE
WITH THE INFORMATION GIVEN IN READING PASSAGE 3?
27. TAXONOMIC RESEARCH INVOLVES COMPARING MEMBERS OF
ONE GROUP OF ANTS
Key words:
taxonomic, comparing members of group of ants
In paragraph 1: “For taxonomy, or classification, long series, from a single nest, which
contain all castes (workers, including majors and minors, and, if present, queens and males) are
desirable, to allow the determination of variation within species”.
This means that taxonomic research involves classifying
ants from a single nest, which contain
all castes, or different members of a group.
– comparing = determination of variation
– one group = species
=>ANSWER: TRUE
28. NEW SPECIES OF ANT ARE FREQUENTLY IDENTIFIED BY
TAXONOMISTS.
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Key words: new species of ant, identified, taxonomists
All the information relating to taxonomic research is in paragraph 1. Taxonomic research
involves comparing members of one group of ants and “the taxonomist sometimes
overlooks whole species in favour of those currently under study”.
There is no information about how often new species of ant are identified by taxonomists.
=> ANSWER: NOT GIVEN
29. RANGE IS THE KEY CRITERION FOR ECOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS
Key words: range,
key criterion, ecological collections
In paragraph 1, “For ecological studies, the most important factor is collecting identifiable
samples of as many of the different species present as possible”. This means that it is
important for ecological collections to collect a variety of present species [collect different species]
– range: a variety of things of a particular type
– key criterion = the most important factor
=> ANSWER: TRUE
30. A SINGLE COLLECTION OF ANTS CAN GENERALLY BE USED FOR
BOTH TAXONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL PURPOSES.
Key words: single collection of ants, taxonomic and
ecological purposes
In paragraph 1: “For ecological studies, the most important factor is collecting identifiable samples of
as many of the different species present as possible”. Taxonomists prefer to
collect a lot of ants from a single nest. “Unfortunately, these methods are not always
compatible”. Therefore, one collection of ants cannot always be used for both purposes.
Therefore, it is false to say that a single collection of ants can generally be used for both
taxonomic and ecological purposes.
=> ANSWER: FALSE
QUESTIONS 31 – 36
31. IT IS PREFERABLE TO TAKE SPECIMENS FROM GROUPS OF ANTS
In paragraph 2,
in the hand collecting method, “when possible, collections should be made from nests
or foraging columns and at least 20 to 25 individuals collected. This will ensure
that all individuals are from the same species and so increase their value for detailed
studies”. “Take specimens from groups of ants” means all individuals [ants] are the same spec
ies, from the same nestor column of ants searching for food.
=>ANSWER: A – Hand-collecting
32. IT IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE FOR WET HABITATS.
In paragraph 4, in the ground litter sampling method, “this method works
especially well in rain
forests and marshy areas”. Rain forests and marshy areas are wet habitats.
– effective = works well
– marshy area: land which is always soft and wet.
=> ANSWER: C – Sampling ground litter
33. IT IS A GOOD METHOD FOR SPECIES WHICH ARE HARD TO FIND
In paragraph 3, in the method using baits, “Baits can be used to attract and concentrate
foragers. This often increases the number of individuals collected and attracts species that are
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otherwise elusive”. That means baits can be used to collect species which are hard to find [elusive].
– hard to find = elusive
=>ANSWER: B – Using bait
34. LITTLE TIME AND EFFORT IS REQUIRED
In paragraph 5, the pitfall trap method, “One advantage of pitfall traps is that they can be used to
collect over a period of time with minimal maintenance and intervention”. That
means when using
pitfall traps, little time and effort is required to look after and check the traps [this is the advantage of
this method].
– little = minimal: very small in size or amount; as small as possible
=>ANSWER: D – Using a pitfall trap
35. SEPARATE CONTAINERS ARE USED FOR INDIVIDUAL SPECIMENS
In paragraph 2, in the hand collecting method, “Individual insects are placed in plastic or glass tubes
(1.5 – 3.0
ml capacity for small ants, 5-8 ml for larger ants) containing 75% to 95% ethanol”.
Insects [including small ants and larger ants] are placed in plastic or glass tubes
[containers] with different sizes. Each insect is placed in a separate tube.
– containers = tubes
=>ANSWER: A – Hand collecting
36. NON-ALCOHOLIC PRESERVATIVE SHOULD BE USED
In paragraph 5, in the method using pitfall traps, “the preservative used is usually ethylene glycol or
propylene glycol, as alcohol will evaporate quickly and the traps will dry out”.
If alcohol is used to preserve ant speciments, the traps dry too quickly because alcohol
evaporates.
So other preservatives, which do not contain alcohol should be used.
– evaporate: to disappear, especially by gradually becoming less and less
=> ANSWER: D – Using a pitfall trap
QUESTIONS 37 – 40
IN PARAGRAPH 4: “THIS IS MOST COMMONLY DONE BY
PLACING LEAF LITTER [38] ON A SCREEN [39] OVER A LARGE
FUNNEL, OFTEN UNDER SOME HEAT [37]. AS THE LEAF LITTER
DRIES FROM ABOVE, ANTS (AND OTHER ANIMALS) MOVE
DOWNWARD AND EVENTUALLY FALL OUT THE BOTTOM AND
ARE COLLECTED IN ALCOHOL [40] PLACED BELOW THE
FUNNEL”
