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Designed By:
Christian Alas
Created and illustrated By:
Angelo Romero and Camilo Sanabria
Spiders
Spiders are one of the most common, yet notorious creatures around. They are part of a group of animals that also includes scorpions, mites, and ticks.
There are many types of spiders, not all of them being as dangerous as you might think. One common trait among spiders is that they produce silk and spin it into intricate webs to trap insects. They then eat the inept, ungainly insects that blundered by venturing into the web used as a ruse by the spider to trap them. The silk they produce can also be used for climbing.
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Spiders live all over the world, from the tropical climates to the top of mountains. They have even made the transition to living under water, getting oxygen through the silk tubes they produce. Always having an alternative environment to live in makes spiders a very adaptable species.
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All spiders have eight legs and are unable to chew food, so to consume their prey they suck up the liquid parts. Most spiders also have eight eyes that bolsters their vision. Imagine all the things you could accomplish if you had eight eyes! In terms of size, spiders range from less than 1 mm to as much as 3.5 inches.
When it comes to lifespan, spiders live for about a year, some up to two years. Tarantulas, on the other hand, commence the life process and seemingly do not stop. They commonly live up to twenty years!
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Most spiders do not bite humans because they do not view us as prey. But if we happen to trap them, or if they get stuck, then they will probably bite and may release a trifle bit of venom. Although it is not common, in some countries people eat spiders as food.
Places such as Cambodia, Thailand, and parts of South America offer spiders as a delicacy. Understandably, most people don’t have reveries about munching on spiders and would not have to contemplate for long when deciding whether or not to eat one!
For the people who fear spiders, there is a term for the fear called arachnophobia. It happens to be one of the most common phobias. Such people don’t have to muse for long about the subject of spiders before becoming uncomfortable.
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They often act in a frenzied and haphazard manner when confronted with a situation where there is a possibility of a spider’s presence. Spiders botch any chance for a peaceful mood if a person suffers from arachnophobia. Even if you clarify to such a person that the spider cannot maneuver over to them, they will still feel panicked. Their fear will not waver as long as the spider is present.
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Spiders also represent different meanings and symbols in many cultures. For example, they represent patience in using a hunting style that requires creating webs, and malice while waiting for the slow death of its prey as it lingers in its web. Spiders, having eight legs, are quite nimble and are able to take advantage of sluggish prey.
Spiders may not be the lithest of creatures, so they use their web to trap more adept prey.
Even though spiders have a negative connotation, they are the inspiration for one of the most popular, beloved, and successful comic book heroes: Spider Man. One does not have to recollect too deeply to know who that is
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Spider Man is the hero who lives a life of solitude and fights crime much like the spider that hunts prey in a solitary style, eventually causing the evil-doer to forfeit his evil ways and give up.
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Vocabulary
Match each word in the left column with a description in the right column that best matches its meaning
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1. ___ Intricate 2. ___ Blunder 3. ___ Lithe 4. ___ Botch 5. ___ Maneuver 6. ___ Forfeit 7. ___ Nimble |
A. Slow, lethargic B. Option, choice C. Agile, quick, D. Complicated, complex E. Flexible, agile, nimble F. Spoil, damage, mess up G.Move in a planned or shrewd manner |
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8. ___ Frenzied 9. ___ Ruse 10. ___ Haphazard 11. ___ Inept 12. ___ Alternative 13. ___ Sluggish 14. ___ Bolster 15. ___ Trifle |
A. Mistake, error B. Give up, surrender C. Frantic, made panicky D. Trick, scam, ploy E. Disorganized, messy F. Useless, hopeless G. Strengthen, reinforce, support H. Of little value, small amount |
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Vocabulary
Match each word in the left column with a description in the right column that best matches its meaning
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16. ___ Clarify 17. ___ Ungainly 18. ___ Contemplate 19. ___ Waver 20. ___ Inspiration 21. ___ Linger 22. ___ Solitude |
A. Begin, start B. Explain, make clear C. Clumsy, awkward, graceless D. Change, conversion E. Wonder, think F. Hesitate, be indecisive G. Motivation, stimulation |
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23. ___ Muse 24. ____ Transition 25. ____ Recollect 26. ____ Venture 27. ____ Solitary 28. ____ Accomplish 29. ____ Reverie 30. ____ Commence |
H. Remain, stay behind I. Loneliness, privacy J. Ponder, think about K. Remember, recall L. To embark, to journey M. Lonely, private N. Achieve, complete O. Daydream, imagine |
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Multiple Choice
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1. All spiders are able to produce: A. nylon. B. silk. C. leather. D. rubber. |
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2. Tarantellas can live up to ____ years. A. 20 B. 30 C. 40 D. 50 |
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The term for fear of spiders is called: A. Bipolar Disorder. B. Schizophrenia. C. Claustrophobia. D. Arachnophobia. |
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4. Spiders can inject prey with a poison called: A. Acid. B. Venom. C. Alcohol. D. Peroxide. |
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5. Which country does not consider spider as gourmet food? A. Cambodia B. Thailand C. Parts of South America D. England |
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True or False
Choose whether each statement is true or false and write your answer in the space provided.
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1. ___ Spiders can range from 1 mm to 3.5 inches long. 2. ___ Spiders have eight eyes along with their eight legs. 3. ___ The average lifespan of a spider is 5-6 years. 4. ___ Spiders are unable to chew their food. 5. ___ Spiders do not try to bite humans; they only bite if threatened. |
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Short Answer
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1. What other animals are spiders classified with? ______________________________________ |
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2. Explain how a spider traps its prey. ______________________________________ |
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3. Explain how a spider eats its prey. ______________________________________ |
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4. What symbols do spiders represent? ______________________________________ |
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Reading Questions
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1. What is the writer’s main idea? ______________________________________ |
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2. What example supports the writer’s main idea? ______________________________________ |
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3. How does the example help the writer’s argument? ______________________________________ |
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4. What do you think about the story? ______________________________________ |
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