HEY PEOPLE. Here are the answer scheme for time practice 2.

TIMED PRACTICE 2

From Passage A

From paragraph 1

1a “By popular reputation, parasites are repugnant creatures…”

What is implied by the underlined word about the reputation of the parasites? [1]

v Many people share the same opinion about the parasites.

1b Why are parasites described as ‘repugnant’? [1]

v They are ugly

v ….. creepy

v ….. slimy

v ….. weird [Any 1]

1c “In nature, these organisms seem to have lost their table manners”. [2]

Why does the author say this?

v Usually, one is expected to behave well in front of a host. [1]

v However, the parasites do not as they come uninvited and eat their hosts / “They invite themselves to lunch and then dine on their hosts, sucking blood, leaching nutrients, devouring whole organs”. [1]

1d Using your own words, explain why the creature is described as ‘helpless’. [2]

v It continues to exist [1]

v While its insides are being eaten [1]

From paragraph 2

2a What is implied about the parasites from the phrase ‘odd sideshows’? [2]

v They are strange [1]

v They are unimportant [1]

2b Pick out the phrase which suggests that the parasites are gradually gaining importance. [1]

v “finding a new place in the biological spotlight”

2c In your own words, explain how the parasites are significant. [4]

v many of the characteristics found in plants and animals developed and changed as a result / consequent of the parasites’ existence

(many of the traits we see in plants and animals evolved in response to their

presence.)

From paragraph 3

3a “Millions probably, perhaps tens of millions”.

What is suggested here? [1]

v The number is an estimation / guess / approximation

3b Which word implies the same meaning as “living within”? [1]

v “denizens”

From paragraph 4

4a “The so-called pork tapeworm …”.

What is implied by the underlined word? [1]

v That it is not really pork / from a pig

4b “Fleas, ticks and leeches are usually more catholic in their choice of hosts…”.

Explain the above statement with reference to the underlined words. [2]

v Have a wider range [1]

v Selection [1]

4c Quote an evidence to show that parasites are innocuous. [1]

v “Two varieties of mites live harmlessly on the landscape of the human face, tucked into hair follicles of the forehead and cheeks.”

4d “However, many parasites pester, maim or kill the animals they infect.”

Give one example for each of the cases underlined above. [3]

v pester – “Two varieties of mites live harmlessly on the landscape of the human face, tucked into hair follicles of the forehead and cheeks.” [1]

v maim – “Blood-dwelling trematodes infect 200 million people, sometimes causing severe disease of the gastrointestinal tract, bladder and liver.” [1]

v kill – “Hookworms, little leechlike vampires of the intestinal tract, … kill perhaps 100 000.” [1]

4e Which word suggests that hookworms are not vampires? [1]

v “leechlike”

From paragraph 5

5 Why are the parasites that cause malaria described as the ‘worst offenders’? [1]

v because the number of people dying from malaria is astounding / too huge

From paragraph 6

6 What is the author’s opinion of parasites? Give an evidence for your answer. [2]

v He thinks positively of them [1]

v “splendid creatures” / “They give you a healthy respect for the power of little things.” [1]

From paragraph 7

7a “Parasites – even invisible ones – affect life in profound ways…”.

What is implied about the parasites? [1]

v powerful / have a great influence

7b In your own words, give two reasons for the parasites being powerful. [2]

v reproduce quickly [1]

v in great numbers [1]

(Because most multiply so rapidly and in abundance, their effects are

especially powerful).

From paragraph 8

8 Give an evidence to show how powerful the parasites can be. Do not use the words in the paragraph. [1]

v they can alter the usual actions of animals

(Some parasites can change the habits of animals…)

From Passage B

From paragraph 1

9a “Many biologists see the relationship between parasite and host as a kind of biological arms race.”

Describe the “arms race” taking place here. [3]

v the constant competition between the parasites and hosts [1]

v the hosts have to keep finding ways to defend themselves against the parasites’ invasion while [1]

v the parasites have to constantly device new ways to invade the bodies of their hosts [1]

9b Quote a phrase that implies that the parasites have an advantage over their hosts. [1]

v “have an edge”

9c In your own words, give the reasons for the parasites having an advantage over their hosts. [3]

v they die earlier than their hosts [1]

v multiply at a faster rate [1]

v develop and change faster than their hosts [1]

9d “Still, the contest rarely ends in victory…”

Why is this ironic? [2]

v With the parasites having an edge over their hosts, we expect them to overcome their hosts easily but they do not

From paragraph 2

10a Which word in the paragraph suggests that the parasites have to make a sacrifice? [1]

v “traded”

10b “Eventually, they traded the freedom of life in the open for the security of constant food and shelter.”

Pick out a sentence that implies the same meaning as the above. [1]

v “a host is an island in a vast, inhospitable sea”

From paragraph 3

11 In your own words, explain how the parasites alter the behaviour of the cockroach to their advantage. [4]

v deprives the roach of its normal escape response [1]

v causing it to be less suspicious [1]

v so that it can be caught easily by rats or other mammals that

v the worm prefers as the next host [1]

(“It robs the roach of its normal escape response, making it grow less wary, increasing the chance that it will be snapped up by the rats or other mammals the worm favours for its next host.”)

Vocabulary

From Passages A and B

12 For each of the words given, give a word or phrase (of not more than seven words) that has a similar meaning as the word given in the passage. [5]

From Passage A

a repugnant (L2) – very unpleasant / disgusting

b significantly (15) – to an important degree

From Passage B

c evade (L3) – avoid / hide from

d minute (L13) – very small / negligible

e resilient (L18) – tough / strong and not easily affected

-CHAIRMAN.