Reading Comprehension

PT124 · S4 · P4 · Q26 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.

26.

Which one of the following would, if true, most strengthen the author's position regarding the practical applicability of the information about predatory mites presented in the passage?

  1. The individual Typhlodromus mites that

    No Impact

    This is just saying that individual Typhlodromus who lay eggs for the longest time also lay the most eggs per day. Cool. Some Typhlodromus are super fertile. We only really care what's happening with the Typhlodromus population writ large, which is that is can reproduce fast enough to keep up with the prey but also stops reproducing when the prey is away.

    5% picked this

  2. The insecticides that are typically

    No Impact

    If this were saying something bad about insecticides that wouldn't be true about predator mites, it could maybe boost the idea of using predator mites, but this just says that insecticides usually kill all types of mites. That's not a bad thing, if you want your strawberries mite-free.

    11% picked this

  3. In areas in which strawberry

    No Impact

    We don't care about the particular nuances of winters where cyclamens live. We know that their populations decline in the winter, and in response Typhlodromus population also declines.

    5% picked this

  4. Typhlodromus are sometimes preyed upon

    No Impact / Weak

    The "sometimes" makes this instantly unlikely as a correct answer. Parathion is pretty irrelevant to the question stem because it only gets rid of the predator mites. What we're really trying to judge in this question is, "In order to get rid of a pesky mite, should we use a predator mite or a pesticide designed to get rid of the pesky mite?"

    3% picked this

  5. Correct

    Typhlodromus easily tolerate the same

    Why this is right

    Another good thing that makes Typhlodromus a successful solution to controlling cyclamen mites. They can be found wherever strawberry plants can be found. Nice strong language, they "easily" tolerate the same range of climate.

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

    76% picked this

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