MC
Vocab
100

What happens if there are too many “bug guts” on the surface of an airplane wing? 

  1. The bug guts attract birds, who fly in front of the plane and disrupt the pilot’s ability to steer the plane. 
  2. The bug guts cause more drag, which means the plane’s engines have to work harder and use more fuel.
  3. The bug guts make the plane hard to see from the ground, which makes the plane harder to land. 
  4. The bug guts fly off the plane’s surface, falling to the ground and potentially hurting people on land.


  1. The bug guts cause more drag, which means the plane’s engines have to work harder and use more fuel.
100

What does repel mean? Use it in a sentence that is related to the article and list one synonym

To ward off or force back.


EX: the spray repels bugs

Syn: resist, expel

200

The author describes the problem of bug guts on airplane wings affecting the drag on the plane. What solution to this problem does the author describe? 

  1. a bug-repelling scent based on the structure of bug spray that prevents bugs from getting close to the plane 
  2. a self-cleaning paint based on the structure of blades of grass that prevents bug guts from sticking to the plane 
  3. a bug-repelling paint based on the structure of a duck’s feathers that prevents bugs from getting close to the plane 
  4. a self-cleaning paint based on the structure of lotus leaves that prevents bug guts from sticking to the plane


  • a self-cleaning paint based on the structure of lotus leaves that prevents bug guts from sticking to the plane
200

What does contour mean? Use it in a sentence related to the article and provide a synonym.

The outline of a figure or shape

EX: A plane's wing has a curved contour power.


Syn: Shape, outline

300

Read the following sentences from the text.

“Could a bird’s qualities help bullet trains move more efficiently? Kingfishers, with their pointy beaks, showed how to break the sound barrier without turbulence. When these birds dive in the water, they do not make a splash because their shape is so streamlined. Scientists used this knowledge to solve the problem of bullet trains creating sonic booms inside tunnels. Those bullet trains were redesigned to resemble sleek kingfishers . . . and the problem went away."

What conclusion can be drawn about how bullet trains were redesigned based on this information?

  1. They were probably redesigned to have a front end that resembled a kingfisher’s pointy beak. 
  2. They were probably redesigned to have wheels that resembled a kingfisher’s feet. 
  3. They were probably redesigned to have wings that resembled a kingfisher’s wings. 
  4. They were probably redesigned to be painted with colors that resembled a kingfisher’s colors.

They were probably redesigned to have a front end that resembled a kingfisher’s pointy beak.

300

What does streamlined mean? Use it in a sentence related to the article.

of a contour or surface, designed to offer minimum resistance when moving through the air or water.


When these birds dive in the water, they do not make a splash because their shape is so streamlined.

400

Based on the text, why might scientists look to nature for solutions to human problems? 

  1. because plants and animals are smarter than humans, so can think more creatively about design problems 
  2. because living things have evolved to solve specific problems, and those “solutions” have been tested by time
  3. because living things have always kept better records of their design practices, so scientists can refer to those 
  4. because plants and animals haven’t been around as long as humans, so they have to work harder to survive


  1. because living things have evolved to solve specific problems, and those “solutions” have been tested by time
500

What is the main idea of this passage? 

  1. Termites build large mounds of earth with openings to cool down the air inside. 
  2. For millions of years, living things on earth have evolved to solve problems and survive. 
  3. Many human design solutions have been inspired by the adaptations of plants and animals.
  4. Scientists helped airplane wings avoid bug gut buildup by copying the design of lotus leaves.


  1. Many human design solutions have been inspired by the adaptations of plants and animals.
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