©(Courtesy Daniel Rubinoff via AP)
Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。
- Have you ever seen a caterpillar in real life?
- Do you think insects can be clever in how they survive?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。
- rare /rair/
- strange /streynj/
- decorate /DEK-uh-reyt/
- remain /ri-MEYN/
- protect /pruh-TEKT/
[adjective] – not common or usual
The museum has a rare painting from the 15th century.
[adjective] – unusual or surprising in a way that is hard to understand
I had a strange dream about flying cars last night.
[verb] – to make something look more attractive by putting things on it
The crab decorates its shell with seaweed to hide from predators.
[noun] – the parts left after something has been destroyed or used
Archaeologists studied the remains of an ancient building.
[verb] – to keep someone or something safe from harm
Scientists are working hard to protect endangered sea turtles from pollution and hunters.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。
A rare carnivorous caterpillar found only on the island of Oahu has surprised scientists with its strange way of surviving. Recently reported in the journal Science, this insect has been named the “bone collector” because it decorates its silk case with the body parts of ants and flies. The caterpillar eats insects caught in spiderwebs and uses their remains to blend in. Experts believe this helps it stay hidden while stealing food from spiders. Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa say that only 62 of these caterpillars have been found in more than 20 years, showing how rare they are. While other native Hawaiian caterpillars use sand or lichen for protection, this species is unique for using animal remains. Scientists believe this insect has been around for over 6 million years—older than the Hawaiian islands themselves. It lives in a small forest area that is now threatened by invasive species. Experts are calling for action to protect the caterpillar and its habitat. The study reminds how special and fragile island ecosystems are and why protecting rare species like this is important.
True or False:
Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.
文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。
- The caterpillar was found on the island of Oahu.
- The caterpillar uses flower petals to decorate its silk case.
- Experts think the caterpillar uses insect parts to stay hidden.
- Scientists have found thousands of these caterpillars in Hawaii.
- The forest where the caterpillar lives is growing larger and safer.
Fill in the blanks:
Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.
適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。
rare | strange | decorates | remains | protect |
- The bird ______ its nest with shiny objects like coins and pieces of glass to attract a mate.
- Volunteers plant trees to ______ the forest from soil erosion.
- The dog made a ______ sound when it saw the balloon.
- It’s ______ to see snow in this part of the country.
- The museum displays the ______ of ancient tools used by early humans.