Comprehension Strategy Assessment • Grade 4 © 2006 Benchmark Education Company, LLC50
The sundew and the Venus flytrap are unusual plants. They growin swamps or bogs, which are wet places. These wet places do notsupply enough minerals for plants to grow well. So the sundew andVenus flytrap catch insects for food. The insects provide all theminerals these plants need.
Sundew leaves have long tentacles, or “arms.” Each arm has asticky drop at the end. When an insect lands on a sundew leaf, itsticks. As the insect fights to get away, other arms bend toward theinsect to form a trap. Next, the arms produce a special juice thatbreaks down the insect’s body. When the food from inside the insectis eaten, the arms of the plant open. The wind blows away the partof the insect that cannot be used for food.
The Venus flytrap has two-part traps. Spikes stick out from theinside of each part, or lobe. When an insect lands on a lobe, itmay touch a very sensitive trigger. If the insect touches this triggertwice, the lobes of the Venus flytrap instantly shut tight. It takesless than a second for thisto occur.
As with the sundew, aspecial juice in the Venusflytrap breaks down theinsect for food. Unlike thesundew, the Venus flytrapdoes not need the wind toblow away leftover insectparts. This plant crushes theinsect body with the spikesinside its traps.
Directions: Read the passage. Then use the information from the passage to answer questions 1–5.
Insects for Dinner
Ongoing Comprehension Strategy Assessment •7
Name ___________________________________ Date ____________
© 2006 Benchmark Education Company, LLC Comprehension Strategy Assessment • Grade 4 51
1. In what way are the sundew and the Venus flytrap alike?
oA Both eat other plants.
oB Both live in wet places.
oC Both have long arms.
oD Both drink special juices.
2. Both the sundew and Venus flytrap catch insects for food because they __________.oA do not have roots
oB have to get exercise
oC do not take in water
oD need minerals to grow
3. Both the sundew and Venus flytrap produce a special juice to __________.oA break down the insects’ bodies
oB attract insects
oC catch insects on their leaves
oD absorb minerals
4. How are the sundew and Venus flytrap different in the
ways they catch food?
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5. What do the sundew and Venus flytrap do differently
after they have digested their food?
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Name ___________________________________ Date ____________