Download LEVEL 3: ANNOTATED READING QUESTIONS Spiders

LEVEL 3: ANNOTATED READING QUESTIONS
Spiders
Throughout the world, there are over 30 000 different types of spiders.
More than 2000 of these are found in Australia. They evoke fear in
many people, however most spiders are harmless. In fact, spiders are
often helpful. They eat insects which are harmful to people.
Spiders belong to a group known as arthropods which includes
crustaceans, insects (six legs) and arachnids (eight legs). Other
members of the arachnid family are ticks and scorpions.
Spiders live in a wide range of habitats, even in your house. Some
spiders live in trees, some underground and some even live most of
their lives under water. The most dangerous spiders in Australia are
the red back spider and the funnel web spider.
A spider has a head usually with eight eyes and an abdomen with
eight legs. Its mouth cannot bite and chew, but it can suck the juices
out of its prey.
Most spiders make webs with silk threads that are like glue. They use
the web to catch food such as insects. If the spider feels movement in
the threads, it will move onto the web knowing an insect is probably
trapped. It can tell the difference in movement between a possible
meal and the wind or drops of rain.
eight eyes
hairy legs with
claws to help them
walk on the web
spinnerets for making silk
hollow fangs used
to inject poison
pedipalps (mouth)
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eight legs
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Answer these sample questions.
1. The main purpose of the diagram at the end of the
text is:
THINGS TO KNOW – In an information
t
o explain the life cycle

text, the diagram also contains important
of spiders
facts.
HINT – Read the labels on the diagram.
t
o describe a spider’s

What is the information about?
features
to show how spiders live

to show how spiders eat

2. One of the differences between spiders and insects is that:
spiders are arthropods

HINT – Compare spiders and
s
piders are more

insects. Use the details given in the
dangerous
brackets. – The text uses the group
name for spiders (arachnids).
spiders have eight legs

spiders cannot chew

3. What are pedipalps?
a type of spider

another group of animals

baby spiders

mouth parts

HINT – Use the labels in the diagram.
– Don’t get confused if you can’t
pronounce the word. – See if that part of
its body is explained in the text.
4. Which animal is the closest relative to the spider?
crustacean

THINGS TO KNOW – A group of
insect

animals is different to a family of animals.
scorpion

Animals in a family have a closer
relationship than a group.
ant

HINT – Look for animals that are both
arachnids.
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Answer these questions about the text “Spiders”.
1. Which word best describes spider webs?
hard to see

dangerous

beautiful

sticky

2. What is not true for all spiders?
they make webs

they have seven legs

they eat insects

they are similar to ticks

3. How do spiders know when they have trapped some prey?
the web is damaged

the web is like glue

there is movement on the web

the spider sees the prey

4. What do spiders use their hollow fangs for?
to bite their prey

to suck out the body juices

to inject their prey with poison

to fight other spiders

5. How are spiders helpful?
they make beautiful webs

they eat mosquitoes

they can live under water

most spiders are harmless

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