There are many varieties of spider in the American Southwest, but none receives more respect than the western black widow, Latrodectus Hesperus. This poisonous spider, also called the “hour-glass” or “shoe-button” spider for the shape of the red markings on its abdomen, produces a venom 15 times more powerful than that of a rattlesnake. However, few deaths can be blamed on this insect because bites are rare and only a small amount of poison enters the body.
The female adult black widow may reach a length of 1 ¼ inches, while the smaller male averages ¼ inch long. The adult female has a shiny black bulb-shaped abdomen, which distinguishes it from the male of the species. The male is generally brown with red and white markings on its flat underside.
The female adult deposits its eggs in specially constructed sacs that hold from 50 to 250 eggs. The tiny pale spiderlings hatch within a few months and gradually develop into adults in one to two years. Some females live up to three years. The male does not fare so well, as it sometimes suffers the fate of being consumed by the female after the summer mating season.
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Varieties of spider in the southwestern U.S.
B. Characteristics of Latrodectus Hesperus
C. Poisonous animals of the American Southwest
D. the abdomens of black widow spiders
2. It can be inferred from the passage that rattlesnakes
A. cause more deaths than black widows
B. do not have markings on their bodies
C. are limited in geographical range
D. have more powerful venom than black widows
3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a difference between a male and female black widow?
A. Its body length B. The shape of its body
C. The potency of its venom D. Its life span
4. In line 7, the word “underside” refers to
A. the portion of the head closest to the ground
B. the legs C. the upper back D. the abdomen
5. According to the passage, the maturation of baby black widow spiders occurs
A. very rapidly B. over a couple of years
C. within several months D. during the summer mating season
1. What does the passage mainly discuss?
A. Varieties of spider in the southwestern U.S.
B. Characteristics of Latrodectus Hesperus
C. Poisonous animals of the American Southwest
D. the abdomens of black widow spiders
2. It can be inferred from the passage that rattlesnakes
A. cause more deaths than black widows
B. do not have markings on their bodies
C. are limited in geographical range
D. have more powerful venom than black widows
3. Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage as a difference between a male and female black widow?
A. Its body length B. The shape of its body
C. The potency of its venom D. Its life span
4. In line 7, the word “underside” refers to
A. the portion of the head closest to the ground
B. the legs C. the upper back D. the abdomen
5. According to the passage, the maturation of baby black widow spiders occurs
A. very rapidly B. over a couple of years
C. within several months D. during the summer mating season