The Marvelous Monarch: A Journey of Transformation and Endurance
The marvelous Monarch butterflies, with their striking orange and black markings, are a sight to behold. Their life is a journey of transformation and endurance, starting as an egg and evolving through the larva and pupa stages into the adult butterfly. These butterflies are famous for their annual migration, a journey of up to 3000 miles from the United States and Canada to Mexico to escape the winter. But this journey is not their only remarkable feature. Monarchs have an extraordinary method of protection. They feed on toxic milkweed plants as caterpillars, becoming poisonous themselves and warning predators away with their vibrant colors.
Question 1
What does the term 'migration' mean in the context of Monarch butterflies?
Changing colors
Feeding on milkweed plants
Flying to Mexico to escape the winter
Explanation. In the context of the text, 'migration' refers to the journey that Monarch butterflies make from the United States and Canada to Mexico to escape the winter.
Evolving from an egg into a butterfly
Changing from larva to pupa
Question 2
Why do Monarch butterflies feed on toxic milkweed plants?
To change their color
To grow faster
To become poisonous and deter predators
Explanation. Monarch butterflies feed on toxic milkweed plants as caterpillars, becoming poisonous themselves. This makes them less appealing to predators.
Because it's their favorite food
To prepare for migration
Question 3
What is the sequence of transformation for a Monarch butterfly?
Egg, pupa, larva, adult butterfly
Egg, larva, pupa, adult butterfly
Explanation. The life sequence of a Monarch butterfly starts as an egg, then evolves into a larva, then a pupa, and finally an adult butterfly.
Larva, egg, pupa, adult butterfly
Pupa, larva, egg, adult butterfly
Egg, larva, adult butterfly, pupa
Question 4
What is the purpose of the Monarch butterfly's vibrant colors?
To attract mates
To scare off other butterflies
To blend in with the environment
To warn predators that they are poisonous
Explanation. Monarch butterflies have vibrant colors to warn predators that they are poisonous, as a result of feeding on toxic milkweed plants.
None of the above
Question 5
True or False: Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico to escape the summer heat.
True
False
Explanation. The text states that Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico to escape the winter, not the summer heat.
Not mentioned in the text
Probably true
Probably false
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