Reading Comprehension

PT124 · S4 · P4 · Q25 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.

25.

The author mentions the egg-laying ability of each kind of mite (fourth sentence of the second paragraph) primarily in order to support which one of the following claims?

  1. Mites that reproduce by parthenogenesis

    Word Blender

    The fact that they reproduce by parthenogenesis is presented consecutively with the idea that the reproductive rates are approximately equal, but these two things aren't connected the way this answer suggests.

    3% picked this

  2. Predatory mites typically have a

    Strong: "typically" Opposite

    This seems to go against the local gist that the reproductive cycles are essentially a match. Yes, the Typhlo's cycle is 8-10 days at lower density while the cyclamens cycle is 4-5 days at a higher density, but the point is that the total number of offspring over those cycles is about the same. If we swapped those two cycles, the passage would be making the exact same point, which is that part of what makes Typhlodromus an effective predator is that it can reproduce as quickly as its prey.

    6% picked this

  3. Typhlodromus can lay their eggs

    Word Blender

    This is close. We know that overall the population of each mite is increasing at a similar rate, but it's not quite synchrony, since the cyclamens cycle is 4-5 days and the Typhlodromuss cycle is 8-10 days. Synchrony is a term stolen from the NEXT factor introduced, which is that overall population levels of Typhlodromus have seasonal synchrony with populations of cyclamen.

    21% picked this

  4. Correct

    Typhlodromus can reproduce at least

    Why this is right

    This is a closer match than (cyclamen) was to the meaning of "its population can increase as rapidly as that of its prey".

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

    69% picked this

  5. The egg-laying rate of Typhlodromus

    Opposite

    We learn that Typhlodromus ramps up reproduction in response to lots of cyclamens and stops reproducing when cyclamens go away.

    1% picked this

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