Male Sea Dragons Give Birth
Perhaps the most extraordinary thing about the leafy sea-dragon (Phycodurus equus) is that it is actually the male of the species that gets pregnant and gives birth.
During mating, the female lays 100–250 eggs onto a special ‘brood patch’ on the underside of the male’s tail, where they are attached and fertilised.
This brood patch, consisting of cups of blood-rich tissue each holding one egg, is especially developed by the male for use during the breeding season from August to March. The bright pink eggs become embedded in the cups of the brood patch, receiving oxygen via the cups’ blood vessels.
During each breeding season, male leafy sea-dragons will hatch two batches of eggs. After a period of about four to six weeks from conception, the male ‘gives birth’ to miniature juvenile versions of sea-dragons. As soon as a baby sea-dragon leaves
the safety of its father’s tail, it is independent and receives no further help from its parents.
For two to three days after birth, the baby sea-dragons are sustained by their yolk sac. After this, they hunt small zooplankton, such as copepods and rotifers, until large enough to hunt juvenile mysid shrimps or ‘sea-lice’.
Within the brood patch, each egg is held in a special
A blood vessel.
B tissue cup.
C breeding season.
D leafy tail.
2 How long is it from conception to the birth of the baby sea-dragons?
A four to six weeks B August to March C two to three days D two months
3 The main function of the special ‘brood patch’ is to
A provide each egg with a blood supply.
B catch food for the baby sea-dragons.
C hold the baby sea-dragons.
D attract female sea-dragons.
4 The most extraordinary thing about the leafy sea-dragon is that the
A female lays so many eggs during mating.
B male has a special patch on its tail.
C male gets pregnant and gives birth.
D female hatches two batches of eggs per season.
5 Immediately after baby sea-dragons are born, they
A live off their egg yolk.
B learn to hunt from their parents.
C are fed by their father.
D hunt juvenile shrimps or ‘sea-lice’.
Grammar
Choose the best word for each blank space.
Ramiz is a businessman, (6) owns ships that sail around the world. I want to become his business partner. Together, (7) will own one of the largest shipping firms in our country . Our ships (8) more cargo than any other company’s ships.
6 A. which
B. who
C. that
D. which
7 A. I and Ramiz
B. Ramiz and I
C. Me and Ramiz
D. Ramiz and me
8 A. carry
B. carries
C. will carry
D. are carrying
/Spelling
Choose the correctly spelt word for each blank space.
The Olympic games were first held in (9) Greece. This was many (10) ago. Athletes from many parts of Greece took part in athletic (11) in these games.
9 A. ancent
B. ancient
C. ansient
D. anceint
10 A. centurys
B. centures
C. centuries
D. centurries
11 A. comptitions
B. compitisions
C. competisions
D. competitions
Punctuation
12 After which word should a comma (,) be inserted in the following sentence?
Without proper education youngsters will not find good jobs.
A Without
B proper
C education
D youngsters
13 The brackets () have been removed from this sentence.
Charles Dickens born in 1812 was one of the most famous authors of the nineteenth century.
Which part of the sentence should have brackets around it?
A Charles Dickens
B born in 1812
C was one of the most famous authors
D of the nineteenth century
14 Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
A You can rent a semi detached cottage near the beach. B You can rent, a semi detached cottage near the beach. C You can rent a semi detached cottage; near the beach. D You can rent a semi-detached cottage near the beach.
Vocabulary
Choose the best word to replace each bold word. The meaning of the sentence should stay the same.
Jim had been after this cache of pirate treasure for a long time. He had undergone many trials and tribulations to get to this point. So, he was very angry when he realised that the map was phony and there was no treasure.
15 The best word to replace cache is
A. ship
B. type
C. jewel
D. hoard
16 The best word to replace tribulations is
A. arrests
B. injuries
C. voyages
D. difficulties
17 The best word to replace phony is
A. lost
B. fake
C. torn
D. wrong
Answer Key
1. B
2. A
3. A
4. C
5. A
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. B
10. C
11. D
12. C
13. B
14. D
15. D
16. D
17. B
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