Reading Comprehension

PT124 · S4 · P4 · Q22 Cyclamen Mites

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Sometimes there is no more effective means of controlling an agricultural pest than giving free rein to its natural predators.

Central Topic

Controlling unwanted crop pests with natural predators vs. pesticides

Framework

Theme / Example

Main Point

Sometimes you'd get better results managing a crop pest population with a natural predator than with a pesticide, as is the case with cyclamen mites and their predator, Typhlodromus.

Passage Map

(P1) General idea. Introduction to specific example -- Sometimes letting natural predator control a crop pest is the best way. A case in point is cyclamen/tyhplo. (P2) Reasons typhlo is an effective way to control cyclamen (P3) Experimental support for effectiveness of typhlo (P4) Practical, in the field, support for effectiveness of typhlo

Other Commentary

On physical science passages that have visually challenging terms (like cyclamen, typhlodromus, parathion), it is very helpful for understanding and retention to re-brand those in much simpler terms.

As we pause to self-summarize, we want to be saying things like,

The second sentence of the passage reveals the purpose / main point of the passage, with the rhetorical phrase a case in point.

Just like when we see "for example", when we see "a case in point" we are becoming aware that the author cares enough about the previous idea to try to support it and flesh it out.

When you find a framing idea that the author wants to support, you should pause and re-read that framing idea until you've self-summarized it in easy language that you can understand and remember.

22.

Which one of the following is mentioned in the passage as a factor contributing to the effectiveness of Typhlodromus as a predator?

  1. its ability to withstand most

    Out Of Scope

    Out Of Scope: "most insecticides" Wrong Window The only insecticide we talked about was parathion. We don't anything about most insecticides. This is also a 3rd paragraph idea, but we're being asked about the "several factors / features" mentioned in the 2nd paragraph.

    1% picked this

  2. its lack of natural predators

    Out Of Scope: "lack of predators"

    We have no idea whether Typhlodromus does or doesn't have any predators.

    1% picked this

  3. its ability to live in

    Out Of Scope: "different climates / regions"

    I'm surprised the test writer was so brazen as to put two different alien ideas in the same answer. Nothing in the passage talks about Typhlodromus living in a bunch of different climates and parts of the world.

    2% picked this

  4. its constant food supply in

    Too Strong: "constant"

    We learn that the food supply is seasonally varying. During the winter, there aren't any cyclamens to eat, so Typhlodromus stops reproducing and gets by on honeydew.

    5% picked this

  5. Correct

    its ability to survive when

    Why this is right

    The middle of the 2nd paragraph says that Typhlodromus "ability to survive at low prey densities" contributes to its predatory efficiency.

    Skill tested: Locate Detail · how this choice captures the passage's function is the move to repeat next time.

    91% picked this

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