Directions: In the following passage there are some blank spaces with four words or groups of words given. Select whichever word or group of words you consider most appropriate for the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. The honeybee is a very unusual kind of insect. __(1)__ other insects which live alone, the honeybee lives as a/an ___(2)___ of a community. These bees live together in what is known as a bee ___(3)____ The head of the bees is called the queen bee. She is ___(4)___ than the rest of the bees. Her main task is to ____(5)___ eggs.
is to ___(5)___ eggs.
lay
Understanding the Honeybee's Task
The passage describes the life of a honeybee, highlighting its community-based living compared to other insects. It introduces the queen bee as the head of the community, noting she is larger than other bees and has a main task.
The blank space (5) follows the phrase "Her main task is to ____ eggs." We need to select the verb that correctly describes what a queen bee does with eggs.
Analyzing the Options for Blank (5): Queen Bee and Eggs
Let's look at the provided options and consider which verb best fits the context of a queen bee and eggs:
- lay: This verb means to produce and deposit eggs. This is a common biological term used to describe what birds, insects, and some other animals do with eggs.
- hatch: This verb describes what happens to eggs when the young animal emerges from them. Eggs hatch; animals do not hatch eggs (unless referring to incubation, but the primary action is depositing).
- make: This verb is too general. While an animal "makes" eggs inside its body, the task related to the community or hive is the act of depositing them.
- bear: This verb means to carry or give birth to young. While some animals bear live young, insects like bees lay eggs. 'Bear' is not the standard term for depositing eggs.
Determining the Correct Verb for Queen Bee's Task
The main role of the queen bee in a honeybee colony is reproduction. She is responsible for producing and depositing all the eggs that will develop into the next generation of bees (workers, drones, and future queens). The most accurate and standard biological term for this action is 'laying eggs'.
Let's consider the phrase "Her main task is to ____ eggs" with each option:
- Her main task is to lay eggs. (Correct usage)
- Her main task is to hatch eggs. (Incorrect; eggs hatch, the queen lays them)
- Her main task is to make eggs. (Possible in a very general sense of production, but 'lay' is the specific action related to the hive)
- Her main task is to bear eggs. (Incorrect; 'bear' is typically for live birth or carrying a burden, not depositing eggs)
Therefore, the verb that correctly completes the sentence describing the queen bee's primary task is 'lay'.
| Option | Meaning | Fits "is to ____ eggs"? |
|---|---|---|
| lay | Produce and deposit eggs | Yes |
| hatch | Emerge from an egg | No |
| make | Create, produce (too general) | Less suitable than 'lay' |
| bear | Carry, give birth (typically live young) | No |
Final Answer for Blank (5)
Based on the analysis of the options and the biological function of a queen bee, the most appropriate word for the blank space (5) is 'lay'. The sentence correctly reads: "Her main task is to lay eggs."
Revision Table: Honeybee Passage Blank (5)
| Blank Number | Sentence Context | Correct Word | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|---|
| (5) | Her main task is to ____ eggs. | lay | 'Lay' is the standard biological term for depositing eggs, which is the primary function of the queen bee in a hive. |
Additional Information: Queen Bee and Reproduction
The queen bee is central to the survival of a honeybee colony. She is usually the only fertile female and can lay hundreds, sometimes thousands, of eggs per day during peak season. These eggs are fertilized (to produce female workers or queens) or unfertilized (to produce male drones).
- A new queen is raised from a normal female larva, but is fed a special diet of royal jelly.
- The queen stores sperm collected during her mating flights early in life, allowing her to fertilize eggs throughout her lifespan, which can be several years.
- Her presence and pheromones also regulate the behavior of the worker bees in the hive.
Understanding the specific roles of individuals within a honeybee community, particularly the queen's reproductive task, is key to filling in the blank correctly.
Similar Questions
The honeybee is a very unusual kind of insect. ___(1)___ other insects which live
alone, the honeybee lives as a/an ___(2)____ of a community. These bees live
together in what is known as a bee ___(3)____ The head of the bees is called the
queen bee. She is ___(4)____ than the rest of the bees. Her main task
What would Come in place of 1?
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Important Questions from Cloze Test
What would come in place of 1
What would come in place of 2
What would come in place of 3
What would come in place of 4
What would come in place of 5
