An endangered species is a type of organism that is threatened by extinction. Species become endangered for two main reasons: loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation. A loss of habitat can happen naturally. Dinosaurs, for instance, lost their habitat about 65 million years ago. The hot, dry climate of the Cretaceous period changed very quickly, most likely because of an asteroid striking the Earth. The impact of the asteroid forced debris into the atmosphere, reducing the amount of heat and light that reached Earth’s surface. The dinosaurs were unable to adapt to this new, cooler habitat. Dinosaurs became endangered, then extinct. Human activity can also contribute to a loss of habitat. Development for housing, industry, and agriculture reduces the habitat of native organisms. This can happen in a number of different ways. Development can eliminate habitat and native species directly. In the Amazon rain forest of South America, developers have cleared hundreds of thousands of acres. To “clear” a piece of land is to remove all trees and vegetation from it. The Amazon rain forest is cleared for cattle ranches, logging, and urban use. Development can also endanger species indirectly. Some species, such as fig trees of the rain forest, may provide habitat for other species. As trees are destroyed, species that depend on that tree habitat may also become endangered. Tree crowns provide habitat in the canopy, or top layer, of a rainforest. Plants such as vines, fungi such as mushrooms, and insects such as butterflies live in the rain forest canopy. So do hundreds of species of tropical birds and mammals such as monkeys. As trees are cut down, this habitat is lost. Species have less room to live and reproduce. Based on the passage above choose the correct option for the following questions.
Which of the following do not live in the canopy of the Amazon rain forests?
Crocodiles
Understanding Amazon Rainforest Canopy Life
The question asks us to identify which of the given options does not live in the canopy of the Amazon rainforests, based on the provided passage. To answer this, we need to carefully read the section of the passage that describes the rainforest canopy habitat and the organisms that live there.
Analyzing the Passage for Canopy Inhabitants
The passage describes the canopy as the "top layer, of a rainforest" and states:
"Tree crowns provide habitat in the canopy... Plants such as vines, fungi such as mushrooms, and insects such as butterflies live in the rain forest canopy. So do hundreds of species of tropical birds and mammals such as monkeys."
This sentence directly lists several types of organisms found in the Amazon rainforest canopy:
- Vines (Plants)
- Mushrooms (Fungi)
- Butterflies (Insects)
- Tropical birds
- Monkeys (Mammals)
Evaluating the Options Based on the Passage
Now let's look at the options provided and see if they are mentioned in the passage as living in the Amazon rainforest canopy:
- Option 1: Monkeys
The passage explicitly states that "mammals such as monkeys" live in the rainforest canopy. So, monkeys are inhabitants of the canopy according to the text. - Option 2: Crocodiles
The passage lists vines, mushrooms, butterflies, tropical birds, and monkeys as living in the canopy. Crocodiles are not mentioned anywhere in this list or elsewhere in the description of the canopy habitat. Crocodiles are typically associated with aquatic environments like rivers and swamps, not the forest canopy. - Option 3: Vines
The passage explicitly mentions "Plants such as vines" living in the rainforest canopy. So, vines are inhabitants of the canopy according to the text. - Option 4: Butterflies
The passage explicitly mentions "insects such as butterflies" living in the rainforest canopy. So, butterflies are inhabitants of the canopy according to the text.
Identifying the Organism Not in the Canopy
Based on our analysis of the passage, monkeys, vines, and butterflies are all listed as living in the Amazon rainforest canopy. Crocodiles, however, are not mentioned as canopy inhabitants in the text. Therefore, crocodiles do not live in the canopy according to this passage.
Conclusion: Which Organism Avoids the Canopy?
The passage provides a clear list of organisms found in the Amazon rainforest canopy. By comparing this list to the options, we find that crocodiles are the only option not mentioned as living in this habitat layer. They are typically found in water bodies associated with the rainforest, not high up in the tree crowns.
Revision Table: Amazon Canopy Life
| Organism | Mentioned in Canopy? | Based on Passage |
|---|---|---|
| Monkeys | Yes | "mammals such as monkeys live in the rain forest canopy" |
| Crocodiles | No | Not mentioned in the list of canopy inhabitants |
| Vines | Yes | "Plants such as vines... live in the rain forest canopy" |
| Butterflies | Yes | "insects such as butterflies live in the rain forest canopy" |
Additional Information: Rainforest Layers and Habitat Loss
Rainforests typically have multiple layers, each providing different habitats. The main layers are often described as:
- Emergent Layer: The very top layer, where a few trees grow taller than the canopy.
- Canopy Layer: The dense, continuous layer of treetops, home to a vast array of life due to abundant sunlight, fruits, and leaves. This is where the passage focuses.
- Understory Layer: The layer below the canopy, with less light, consisting of shrubs, smaller trees, and saplings.
- Forest Floor: The ground level, dark and humid, where decomposition occurs.
The passage highlights that loss of habitat, including the canopy through deforestation, is a major reason species become endangered. When the canopy is destroyed, the species that depend on it for food, shelter, and reproduction, like those mentioned in the passage, lose their home and face extinction threats. Organisms like crocodiles, living in water bodies, are also affected by habitat loss but in different ways, such as pollution or destruction of riverbanks.
Similar Questions
Indian food is rich in ______.
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Which of the following word is the ANTONYM of the word ‘native’ used in the passage?
According to the passage, which of the following is the likely reasoning for the dinosaurs becoming endengared and then extinct?
Which of the following statement is correct according to the passage given above?
- Saint Kabir believed that saintly people:
Important Questions from Reading Comprehension
Why, according to the writer can't people be motivated to use a resource prudently?
1. They feel that others may overuse the resource
2. It is possible to substitute the resource
3. Abundance of the resource availability
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
When do people use resources exhaustively?
The self-interest of people affects the use of renewable resources
People rooted in a locality
Which among the following is closest in meaning with the word 'deplete'?
