Spiders Eat Pests...
And Are Eaten
And Are Eaten
What do spiders help control by eating insects?
A. Weather
B. Diseases
C. Water levels
D. Plants
B. Diseases
What do most spiders use to kill their prey?
A. Teeth
B. Venom
C. Silk
D. Claws
B. Venom
What is the date of Save a Spider Day?
A) March 1
B) March 14
C) April 14
D) February 14
B) March 14
How do spiders help prevent the world from going hungry?
A. By producing silk for farming tools
B. By eating insects that destroy crops
C. By scaring away birds that eat seeds
D. By eating soil-dwelling creatures that harm crops
B. By eating insects that destroy crops
Why might spider venom be useful to humans?
A. It could be used to make webs for building materials.
B. It contains substances that might block pain signals in the body.
C. It is used to fertilize plants.
D. It helps prevent mosquitoes from spreading disease.
B. It contains substances that might block pain signals in the body.
Which two types of spiders in the United States have bites that can harm people?
A) Tarantulas and black widows
B) Brown recluses and wolf spiders
C) Black widows and brown recluses
D) Jumping spiders and garden spiders
C) Black widows and brown recluses
What is the connection between spiders and crop production, as explained in the passage?
A. Spiders eat crop pests, which helps prevent famine by ensuring we have enough food.
B. Spiders live in the soil and protect crops from being eaten by birds.
C. Spiders’ webs help trap moisture in the soil, allowing crops to grow better.
D. Spiders lay eggs in crops to protect them from other animals.
A. Spiders eat crop pests, which helps prevent famine by ensuring we have enough food.
How is spider silk described in the passage?
A. It is stronger than steel for its size.
B. It is sticky and used to catch humans.
C. It is the weakest natural material.
D. It is only used for making webs.
A. It is stronger than steel for its size.
Why is it recommended to release spiders outside instead of killing them?
A) Most spiders are attractive and can be pets.
B) Spiders are beneficial to the ecosystem by controlling pests.
C) All spiders can be harmful to humans.
D) Spiders do not have any venom.
B) Spiders are beneficial to the ecosystem by controlling pests.
Based on the passage, why would killing spiders harm other animals?
A. It would stop spiders from eating dangerous animals like frogs and birds.
B. It would lead to famine, as spiders are essential to controlling animal populations.
C. It would remove an important food source for many predators, including frogs and birds.
D. It would increase the amount of plant-eating animals in the ecosystem.
C. It would remove an important food source for many predators, including frogs and birds.
Based on the passage, why might it be challenging to produce spider silk in large amounts?
A. Spiders often eat each other, making it hard to farm them.
B. Spider silk is too delicate to be collected.
C. Spiders don't produce enough silk in their glands.
D. Spider venom contaminates the silk, making it unusable.
A. Spiders often eat each other, making it hard to farm them.
How can we interpret the statement that "spiders truly are more scared of you than you are of them"?
A) Spiders are aggressive and will attack if given the chance.
B) Spiders have a natural fear of larger creatures, including humans.
C) Humans are naturally afraid of all small creatures.
D) Spiders actively seek out humans for interaction.
B) Spiders have a natural fear of larger creatures, including humans.
How might the disappearance of spiders affect both humans and animals, based on the passage?
A. Without spiders to eat crops, humans would need to develop alternative ways to control pests, which could involve using more harmful pesticides that would negatively impact the environment and wildlife.
B. The disappearance of spiders would lead to less fear in households, allowing humans to live more peacefully alongside nature.
C. Predators that rely on spiders for food would adapt to eating new food sources, which could benefit agricultural productivity.
D. Human reliance on birds and frogs for pest control would increase, helping to balance the ecosystem in new ways.
A. Without spiders to eat crops, humans would need to develop alternative ways to control pests, which could involve using more harmful pesticides that would negatively impact the environment and wildlife.
How could the loss of spiders potentially impact both medicine and industry, based on the passage?
A. Without spiders, humans would need to find alternative ways to create artificial silk and pain-relieving medications, which could slow down the development of new materials and treatments.
B. The disappearance of spiders would lead to fewer opportunities for farming, as spider venom is a crucial part of the agricultural process.
C. If spiders disappeared, other animals would create silk and venom, ensuring that no industries are affected by the loss of spiders.
D. The loss of spiders would only impact animal populations, with no significant effect on human industries or medicine.
A. Without spiders, humans would need to find alternative ways to create artificial silk and pain-relieving medications, which could slow down the development of new materials and treatments.
How can understanding spider behavior and their ecological role impact human perceptions and fears about them?
A) It can reinforce fears by highlighting the dangers of venomous spiders.
B) It can encourage empathy and coexistence by showing their benefits to the ecosystem.
C) It can lead to increased extermination of spiders in homes.
D) It can make people more interested in capturing spiders as pets.
B) It can encourage empathy and coexistence by showing their benefits to the ecosystem.