Part 2
Biology

TOEFL iBT Reading

Ant Interaction

Most experts agree that the common, tiny ant could perhaps be one of the most successful and marvelous species ever witnessed due to its unrivaled resilience. The ant has survived everything nature has thrown at it, including massive climactic shifts that threatened ant populations yet were eventually overcome. A Today, ants have been for millions of years, they continue to occupy and develop their own complex and driven societies on virtually every single land mass on the face of Earth, and, so far, humans have still only discovered about half of all the various species of ants in what will certainly be a search with no end. B When taking a closer look at the social aspects of ants, it is tempting to make some connections with certain traits or practices in human society. C A breakdown of ants’ social tiers is the first step to understanding them more completely. D

When it comes to the ant colony, certain kinds of ants are divided into highly specialized positions. Typically, a colony will consist of the queen, sterile female workers, and males. The queen is the head of the colony, though there may be more than one, and her sole responsibility as the only fertile female is basically to become pregnant and make more babies to ensure the perpetuation of the colony. The duties of the other worker female ants include any necessary job at a given moment, such as collecting food, increasing the network of tunnels in the nest, or protecting the colony from threats. In contrast, the male ants serve one purpose only: to fertilize the eggs of the queen. Clearly, male ants are at the bottom of the barrel when it comes to status.

Taking a closer look at the ant nest, which is typically underground, under large rocks, or in rotten logs, it seems to mirror the human household in many ways. First, there are numerous networks of tunnels, like hallways, which link all the different chambers together. Most of these chambers, like the rooms of the human household, have special purposes as some are used for storing food and others for sleeping while still others are used for interaction between the ants. Furthermore, the ant colony contains all of their important possessions, such as the queen and their stashed food reserves, which the female soldiers are prepared to defend and protect at any given moment.

Another curious observation is that ants, much like human beings, are kings, or rather, queens of their environment. Conversely, as humans have become experts at destroying the world and ecosystems in which they live, ants are the major manipulators and controllers of theirs in a more positive manner since they exist as the major predators as well as scavengers of their environment. Though they are tiny, their numbers are vast, which allows them both to dominate and maintain a healthy balance within their environs. Without ants, certain ecosystems throughout the world would certainly be thrown out of whack as a vital part would be missing; however, if humans were absent, it is clear that the world in general would be much better off.

While the previous observations might require a good stretch of the imagination, a couple of major contrasts between ant and human societies are perhaps easier to grasp. In most human cultures, the male has traditionally been the dominant figure and the one tapped to ensure the survival of the family. In ant colonies, they are, for the most part, slaves to the queen and serve one purpose only and then for merely a portion of the year. Also, the ant colony relies on what is called a physical caste system to delegate the roles of both female and male ants while most human societies are constructed around the abilities of either gender as they are very flexible in their roles and duties. Still, interestingly, there is no question that the success of how ants interact with one another will ensure that their species will continue to expand and proliferate in most regions of the world, with altruistic behavior at the center of their existence.

21. According to paragraph 1, ants are one of the most successful species because

A they are proven to be irrepressible, having survived great environmental changes

B their numbers are vast despite their relatively small size as compared to other species

C they have similar characteristics and traits to those of the human race

D their nests have provided them with excellent protection against climactic shifts

22. Look at the four squares [■] that indicate where the following sentence could be added to the passage.

Therefore, new species are literally being found and cataloged by scientists all the time.

Where would the sentence best fit?

23. The author discusses male ants in paragraph 2 in order to

A reveal how they serve various important functions in an ant society

B contrast their minor role in the ant colony with that of the female ants

C question their relevance by showing how they are not needed at all

D indicate their place in the ant colony was usurped by female worker ants

24. Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect answer choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A The survival of the ant colony rests on the shoulders of the fertile queen leader.

B The queen has many responsibilities, including maintaining the colony.

C The only fertile female of the colony is the queen, though more than one may exist.

D The fact that more queens occupy a colony gives it a better chance for proliferation.

25. According to paragraph 3, in what way does an ant colony resemble a human household?

A It is usually located in protective areas underground or beneath large rocks.

B It is made mostly of tunnels that ants use to move around in their nest.

C It contains rooms that are delegated for certain kinds of use and storage.

D It allows ants to socialize much in the same way humans do at home.

26. The word stashed in the passage is closest in meaning to

A concealed

B placed

C limited

D collected

27. The author’s description of ants mentions all of the following EXCEPT:

A They affect the ecosystem in a positive way, unlike human beings.

B The services of male ants are not required all the year round.

C They sacrifice themselves for the benefit and proliferation of the colony.

D Their main concern is to avoid being destroyed by their natural predators.

28. According to paragraph 5, what is a major difference between ant and human societies?

A Ants follow a queen while most monarchies in the world have already been dissolved.

B The roles of males and females in human societies are more elastic, unlike ants.

C The physical caste system in human societies is more structured than the ant’s system.

D Most human societies are unable to display truly altruistic behavior, but ants are.

29. The author of the passage implies that humans

A will probably outlive most species of ants because of their adaptability

B usually exhibit more altruistic behavior in general compared to ants

C have created mainly male-dominated societies, unlike ants

D are the only reason why the world is in its present condition

30. Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some answer choices do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. This question is worth 2 points .

The social structure of ants will more than likely ensure their long-term survival as well as keep ecosystems healthy.

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Answer Choices

A The complexity of the ant’s social system has changed dramatically over millions of years.

B The rigid roles of ants in a colony ensure that they work together in a very efficient manner.

C Without ants, the planet’s ecosystems would lack an important custodian that plays many roles.

D Queen ants are able to become pregnant and lay eggs numerous times over the course of a year.

E Ant nests tend to mirror the living methods of humans due to their tunnels and special chambers.

F Because the duties of ants are flexible, they are able to perform numerous tasks very quickly.