Exam Animal myths -سيف عويمر
A Criticising my brother's driving is like a red rag to a bull. He'll lose his temper and you'll end up walking instead of getting a lift! The idiom 'like a red rag to a bull' is a useful way of describing something that is guaranteed to make another person angry, but where does it come from? Well, it's common knowledge that the colour of blood makes bulls angry- that's why a matador's cape is red, right? Wrong: bulls are actually colour-blind and it is the movement of the cape, and not its colour, that makes them charge at you. This is one of many common myths about the walking, flying, swimming and crawling creatures with whom we share our beautiful planet.
1. What actually makes bulls charge at the matador?
- The color of the cape
- The movement of the cape
- The sound of the matador
- The brightness of the light
2. Why is the belief about bulls and the color red considered a myth?
- Bulls cannot see red at all
- Bulls are color-blind
- Bulls are not aggressive
- Bulls prefer blue
3. What is the main reason bulls charge, as stated in the paragraph?
- To protect their territory
- Due to the cape's color
- Reaction to motion
- Attracted by sound
4. What is a common myth about bulls?
- They are scared of loud noises
- They become aggressive when they see red
- They sleep during the day
- They avoid bright lights.
5. According to the paragraph, what is the truth about how bulls perceive colors?
- They can see all colors
- They can only see red
- They are color-blind to red
- They see in black and white
B The idiom 'as blind as a bat' is often used to describe someone who can't find something that's right in front of them. However, even a thorough search is unlikely to reveal a truly blind bat because in fact, all species in the bat family have eyes and are capable of sight. About 70% of the nocturnal animals use something called echolocation to navigate, but that doesn't mean they can't see. The remaining 30%, mainly the larger species, can see well at night. Another bat myth is that they love human hair. While they are known to occasionally dive towards people at high speed, scientific evidence shows that they are actually hunting insects and are not irresistibly attracted to your beautiful long hair !
6. What does the idiom 'as blind as a bat' suggest?
- Bats have no eyes
- Bats are intelligent
- Someone cannot see clearly
- Bats are active during the da
7. Is it true that bats are blind?
- Yes, they are completely blind
- No, they can see
- Only during the night
- Only some species are blind
8. What method do bats use to navigate in the dark?
- Smell
- Echolocation
- Vision
- Touch
9. Why is the phrase 'blind as a bat' considered inaccurate?
- Bats do not fly at night
- Bats are not blind
- Bats can hear very well
- Bats are dangerous animals
10. What additional skill do bats have besides seeing?
- They can smell prey from far away
- They use echolocation to navigate
- They can change colors
- They can sense heat
C The idiom 'to bury your head in the sand' means to ignore a problem in the hope that it will go away. The saying is based on the behaviour of ostriches, known for using their beaks to dig holes in which to hide their head from enemies. The only problem is that this is not actually normal ostrich behaviour. The myth that the world's largest birds do this is probably based on the writings of Pliny the Elder. He was a famous Roman naturalist who suggested around two thousand years ago that ostriches 'imagine, when they have thrust their head and neck into a bush, that the whole of their body is concealed. Considering ostriches are the fastest creatures on two legs and have a kick powerful enough to kill a lion, they are much more likely to run or fight than try to hide.
11. What does the idiom 'to bury your head in the sand' mean?
- To relax on a beach
- To ignore a problem
- To cover your face
- To hide from someone
12. Where did the myth about ostriches come from?
- Writings of Pliny the Elder
- Observations by scientists
- Modern research
- Stories from Africa
13. Why is it unlikely for ostriches to bury their heads in the sand?
- They prefer water
- They dig holes to hide food
- They are nocturnal animals
- They have strong legs to run or fight
14. What was Pliny the Elder's suggestion about ostriches?
- They hide from predators by running
- They bury their bodies underground
- They are the fastest birds on two legs
- They think they are hidden when their head is in a bush
15. What can ostriches do that makes them less likely to hide?
- Run fast and kick powerfully
- Fly away from danger
- Camouflage with the environment
- Climb trees
D Moving from underground to underwater, there are several common myths about marine creatures. Firstly, the idea that fish, and especially goldfish, have a memory of just a few seconds is something people seem to remember, but ought to forget. Experiments suggest a fish's memory is much better than that, and can be counted in months rather than seconds. Next, sharks and the disturbing idea that these incredible predators can detect a single drop of blood in the water from miles around. True, though these often-solitary hunters have poor eyesight, they do have a highly developed sense of smell, with some species able to detect a single drop of blood in about 50 litres of water. However, rather disappointingly (unless you're a fish or another of the shark's favourite food), their noses are not as sensitive as is generally believed when it comes to blood.
16. What is the common myth about sharks' sense of smell?
- They can detect blood from miles away
- They cannot smell at all
- They only smell food, not blood
- They have a weak sense of smell
17. How does the text describe sharks' sense of smell?
- Not as sensitive as people think
- Very weak and unreliable
- More sensitive than all other fish
- Only works at night
18. What does the text say about sharks' eyesight?
- They have excellent vision
- Their eyesight is poor
- They can see colors vividly
- They are blind
19. How much blood can some shark species detect?
- A drop in a small pool
- A single drop in about 50 litres of water
- A drop in the entire ocean
- They can detect any amount immediately
20. What is a misconception about sharks' noses when it comes to blood?
- They are too sensitive to other scents
- They are not as sensitive to blood as people think
- They can smell blood through solid objects
- They only detect blood when it's close
21- What is the common myth about goldfish?
- They cannot swim properly
- They have a memory of only a few seconds
- They can live for decades
- They are colorblind
22. What do experiments suggest about fish memory?
- It is worse than previously thought
- It lasts only a few days
- It is much better and can last for months
- Fish do not have memory at all
23. Why should people forget the myth about goldfish memory?
- It is proven that they can live longer
- Goldfish can remember their owners
- They are known to be smarter than other fish
- They actually have much better memory than a few seconds
E Finally, let's head back to dry land where the insects and invertebrates live. Firstly, despite the rumours, earthworms do not actually become two separate slimy worms if you split them in half. Only a limited number of earthworm species can survive such serious injury - only the front half of the worm (where the mouth is located) is able to feed and so survive. Moving from zero to eight legs, you'll no doubt be relieved and thankful that it's not true that over a lifetime people swallow a large number of spiders during their sleep. While sleeping, we make all kinds of noises and movements that warn spiders of danger and prevent them from becoming unwanted furry snacks. So, armed with that knowledge, I wish you a peaceful night's sleep, and if you are curious to learn more, there are plenty more myths connected to animals that you can read about online.
24. What is the myth about earthworms?
- They can regrow their heads
- They turn into two worms if cut in half
- They are poisonous when split
- They multiply when cut
25. Which part of an earthworm can survive if cut?
- The tail end
- The front half where the mouth is located
- The middle part
- Both halves survive equally
26. What is the common misconception about spiders and sleep?
- Spiders crawl into people's ears while they sleep
- Spiders bite people more often at night
- Spiders build webs on sleeping people
- People swallow many spiders during their sleep
27. Why don't spiders get swallowed by people during sleep?
- They are warned by noises and movements
- They are afraid of humans
- They hide in corners
- They are too fast to be caught
28. What advice does the paragraph give about sleeping and myths?
- Sleep with your mouth closed to avoid swallowing spiders
- Don’t believe everything you hear about animal myths
- Always keep your room clean to avoid insects
- Learn about animal behaviors from experts
29. What does the idiom 'like a red rag to a bull' mean, as used in the text?
- Something that is certain to provoke anger
- A calm and soothing effect
- An expression of joy and happiness
- A way to describe a relaxing situation
30. How is the idiom 'as blind as a bat' commonly used, according to the text?
- To describe someone who is very observant
- To describe someone who cannot see things clearly
- To describe someone who moves quickly
- To describe someone who is very slow
31. What is the meaning of the idiom 'to bury your head in the sand,' as explained in the text?
- To ignore a problem hoping it will go away
- To face a challenge directly
- To hide physically from others
- To dig for valuable things