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Questions 40-50
Pheromones are substances that serve as chemical signals between members of the
same species. They are secreted to the outside of the body and cause other individuals
of the species to have specific reactions. Pheromones, which are sometimes called
Line "social hormones," affect a group of individuals somewhat like hormones do an individual
(5) animal. Pheromones are the predominant medium of communication among insects
(but rarely the sole method). Some species have simple pheromone systems and produce
only a few pheromones, but others produce many with various functions. Pheromone
systems are the most complex in some of the so-called social insects, insects that live
in organized groups.
(10) Chemical communication differs from that by sight or sound in several ways.
Transmission is relatively slow (the chemical signals are usually airborne), but the
signal can be persistent, depending upon the volatility of the chemical, and is sometimes
effective over a very long range. Localization of the signal is generally poorer than
localization of a sound or visual stimulus and is usually effected by the animal's moving
(15) upwind in response to the stimulus. The ability to modulate a chemical signal is limited,
compared with communication by visual or acoustic means, but some pheromones may
convey different meanings and consequently result in different behavioral or physiological
responses, depending on their concentration or when presented in combination. The
modulation of chemical signals occurs via the elaboration of the number of exocrine
(20) glands that produce pheromones. Some species, such as ants, seem to be very articulate
creatures, but their medium of communication is difficult for humans to study and
appreciate because of our own olfactory, insensitivity and the technological difficulties
in detecting and analyzing these pheromones.
Pheromones play numerous roles in the activities of insects. They may act as alarm
(25) substances, play a role in individual and group recognition, serve as attractants between
sexes, mediate the formation of aggregations, identify foraging trails, and be involved in
caste determination. For example, pheromones involved in caste determination include
the "queen substance" produced by queen honey bees. Aphids, which are particularly
vulnerable to predators because of their gregarious habits and sedentary nature, secrete
an alarm pheromone when attacked that causes nearby aphids to respond by moving away.
40. What does the passage mainly discuss?
(A) How insects use pheromones to communicate
(B) How pheromones are produced by insects
(C) Why analyzing insect pheromones is difficult
(D) The different uses of pheromones among various insect species
41. The word "serve" in line I is closest in meaning to
(A) improve
(B) function
(C) begin
(D) rely
42. The purpose of the second mention of "hormones" in line 4 is to point out
(A) chemical signals that are common among insects
(B) specific responses of various species to chemical signals
(C) similarities between two chemical substances
(D) how insects produce different chemical substances
43. The word "sole" in line 6 is closest in meaning to
(A) obvious
(B) best
(C) only
(D) final
44. The passage suggests that the speed at which communication through pheromones occurs is dependent on how quickly they
(A) lose their effectiveness
(B) evaporate in the air
(C) travel through the air
(D) are produced by the body
45. According to the passage, the meaning of a message communicated through a
pheromone may vary when the
(A) chemical structure of the pheromone is changed
(B) pheromone is excreted while other pheromones are also being excreted
(C) exocrine glands do not produce the pheromone
(D) pheromone is released near certain specific organisms
46. The word "detecting" in line 23 is closest in meaning to
(A) controlling
(B) storing
(C) questioning
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