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The Spider and the Wasp by Alexander Petrunkevitch

Open-Book Test
Short Answer Write your responses to the questions in this section on the lines provided. 1. An expository essay is a brief nonfiction work in which an author informs readers about something or explains something. What key difference between spiders and wasps does Alexander Petrunkevitch seek to explain in The Spider and the Wasp?

2. In The Spider and the Wasp, Petrunkevitch states, Tarantulas customarily live in deep cylindrical burrows. Based on your knowledge of the word customarily, how often would you be likely to find tarantulas living in shallow triangular holes?

3. In The Spider and the Wasp, Petrunkevitch discusses the spiders three tactile responses. Would the sight of an enemy cause a tactile response? Base your answer on the meaning of the word tactile.

4. In The Spider and the Wasp, Petrunkevitch describes several ways in which a tarantula reacts to touch. Then, he states that these protective reactions do not happen when a digger wasp attacks. Write three of the tarantulas responses to touch in the web. Then, on the lines below, answer the following question: What logical conclusion does the tarantulas failure to respond to the digger wasp suggest about the digger wasps attack?

Tarantulas responses to touch

Unit 3 Resources: Types of Nonfiction

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Name

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5. In The Spider and the Wasp, Petrunkevitch states that a tarantula will react defensively if approached from above. Since a tarantula does not react defensively to a digger wasp, what conclusion can the reader draw?

6. In The Spider and the Wasp, Petrunkevitch points out that tarantulas are protected as a species even though they are such easy prey for wasps. What key detail supports this main idea?

7. In The Spider and the Wasp, Petrunkevitch assumes that a creatures ability to change its behavior is a form of intelligence. He provides this example: If the digger wasp finds a tarantula of the wrong species, the wasp will not attack the tarantula. What conclusion does Petrunkevitch draw based on this evidence?

8. In The Spider and the Wasp, the tarantula finally mounts a last-minute defense after allowing the wasp to crawl all over it for a long time. What does this behavior show about the spiders awareness of its situation?

9. In The Spider and the Wasp, Petrunkevitch gives a detailed explanation of what happens when the spider and the wasp meet. What is the main idea of this part of the essay?

10. In The Spider and the Wasp, Petrunkevitch suggests that the spider operates mainly through instinct rather than intelligence. What detail concerning the spiders web-building technique supports this idea?

Unit 3 Resources: Types of Nonfiction

Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

33