The Ear

1/21/2022 10:42:00 PM
An illustration of the ear. Image: audiologicalservices.net

Do you know?

  • The ear has the smallest bones found in the human body.  There are actually only 3 bones in your ear, all of them can fit inside a penny.
  • Our ears are always working. Even when you are asleep, you are still hearing all of the sounds around you. Even though you are not conscious of it, your ears are still hard at work.

Let's explore more in the following passage!

Let's learn some new words before you read the passage:

Listen and complete the passage.

whisper Earwax eardrum ear canal
strike infections balance cochlea


Did you hear that? If you did, then you heard it with your ear. The ear is a very important part of the body. Sounds can be soft or loud and the ear can hear almost all sounds. The ear takes in sounds, then sends this information to the brain. Ears also help you keep your so that you don’t fall over.

The ear is made up of three main sections. These parts are the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each part of the ear plays an important role in hearing. The outer ear is the part that you can see. If you in someone’s ear, you are whispering into the outer ear. The outer ear holds the . This is where the wax is made. This earwax keeps from getting inside the ear. also collects dirt and keeps the ear clean.

Sound waves enter the ear and travel to the middle ear. Within the middle ear is the , which the sound waves and cause to vibrate.

The inner ear receives the vibrations into the . This is a small tube in the inner ear. The small tubes are filled with liquid. Tiny hairs line the tube. When the vibrations cause the hair to move, it creates nerve signals that the brain understands is sound. The brain understands the signal and hears the sound.

Read and answer the following questions.

The Ear

Inside the ear. Image: southerncross.co.nz

Did you hear that? If you did, then you heard it with your ear. The ear is a very important part of the body. Sounds can be soft or loud and the ear can hear almost all sounds. The ear takes in sounds, then sends this information to the brain. Ears also help you keep your balance so that you don’t fall over.

The ear is made up of three main sections. These parts are the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. Each part of the ear plays an important role in hearing. The outer ear is the part that you can see. If you whisper in someone’s ear, you are whispering into the outer ear. The outer ear holds the ear canal. This is where the wax is made. This earwax keeps infections from getting inside the ear. Earwax also collects dirt and keeps the ear clean.

Sound waves enter the ear and travel to the middle ear. Within the middle ear is the eardrum, which the sound waves strike and cause to vibrate.

The inner ear receives the vibrations into the cochlea. This is a small tube in the inner ear. The small tubes are filled with liquid. Tiny hairs line the tube. When the vibrations cause the hair to move, it creates nerve signals that the brain understands is sound. The brain understands the signal and hears the sound.

Source: Daily Warm-ups reading Grade 4

How many main sections does the ear have?

  • 2
  • 3
  • 4

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

  • The size of ear canal
  • The function of earwax
  • The position of eardrum

What is true according to the second paragraph?

  • The middle ear is the most important section of the ear.
  • The outer ear is the visible part among three main sections.
  • The inner ear contains the ear canal that makes earwax.

What does the word “it” in the text refer to?

  • the vibration from the cochlea
  • the movement of tiny hairs
  • the liquid in the small tubes

The main purpose of this passage is _____.

  • to surprise readers with facts about the ear
  • to provide information about the ear for readers
  • to encourage readers to learn more about the ear

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms

Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one, using the word in a bracket. You must use between THREE and FIVE words, including the word given. Do not change the word given.

Due to the incompetence of the new CEO, my father's company is going bankrupt. (DOWN)

=> My father's company is because of the incompetent new CEO.

Choose the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s).

They hired private investigators to dig up dirt on their political opponents.

  • publicize biographical information
  • disclose unfavourable information
  • conceal disadvantageous information

Choose the underlined part that needs correction.

The troops withheld fire to keep the situation from escalate.

  • The troops
  • to keep
  • situation
  • escalate

I _____ all afternoon, but couldn't remember where I put the book.

  • pulled my leg
  • racked my brains
  • rained on my parade