The Crab Spider

3/1/2022 8:47:36 PM
Image: en.wikipedia.org

Do you know?

  • The crab spider is a type of spider that belongs to the family Thomisidae. There are more than 2.000 species of crab spiders that can be found around the world.
  • They can be found in all kinds of habitats except in the extremely dry deserts and very cold mountains.

Let's explore more about this animal!

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

Listen and complete the passage.

pounces paralyzes unsuspecting camouflaged
husk crouched fangs  


The crab spider is an interesting spider. It matches the color of the flower it lives on. This helps it stay and hide from other insects. It takes this spider three days to change colors to match its environment. The crab spider on any insects as soon as they land on the flower it’s on. The spider bites the insects with its and them. The crab spider sucks up all the body fluids and leaves an empty .

Crab spiders do not spin webs. They spin fluffy silk cocoons to protect their eggs. The female spider can lay up to 20 to 30 eggs at a time. The spiderlings climb out of the cocoon after they shed their skin. Crab spiders live for one year.

The crab spider’s body is divided into two parts with a narrow waist in the middle. The front legs are longer and thicker than the other legs so that they can hold their prey. They have a huge abdomen with simple black eyes that don’t see very well. The spider gets its name because it walks sideways like a crab. This spider spends most of its time in tree trunks, flowers, or leaves.

Read and answer the following questions.

The Crab Spider

A crab spider is sucking up all the body fluids of its prey. Image: image.freepik.com

The crab spider is an interesting spider. It matches the color of the flower it lives on. This helps it stay camouflaged and hide from other insects. It takes this spider three days to change colors to match its environment. The crab spider pounces on any unsuspecting insects as soon as they land on the flower it’s on. The spider bites the insects with its fangs and paralyzes them. The crab spider sucks up all the body fluids and leaves an empty husk.

Crab spiders do not spin webs. They spin fluffy silk cocoons to protect their eggs. The female spider can lay up to 20 to 30 eggs at a time. The spiderlings climb out of the cocoon after they shed their skin. Crab spiders live for one year.

The crab spider’s body is divided into two parts with a narrow waist in the middle. The front legs are longer and thicker than the other legs so that they can hold their prey. They have a huge abdomen with simple black eyes that don’t see very well. The spider gets its name because it walks sideways like a crab. This spider spends most of its time crouched in tree trunks, flowers, or leaves.

Source: Daily Warm-ups Reading Grade 5

How did the crab spider get its name?
  • from the mate it chooses
  • from the sound it makes
  • from the way it walks
  • from the food it eats

What can you know from the first paragraph?

  • The insects can't move after being bitten by the crab spider.
  • The crab spider's favourite habitat is flowers.
  • Of all the spiders, the crab spider is the most dangerous species.
  • The crab spider only chooses insects to feed on.

What can you NOT infer from the passage?

  • The lifespan of the crab spider is the shortest.
  • The crab spider doesn't belong to mammalian species.
  • The crab spider changes its color on purpose.
  • The front legs of the crab spider aid its hunting process.

Which of the following is NOT mentioned in the passage?

  • The lifespan of the crab spider
  • The eating process of the crab spider
  • The vision of the crab spider
  • The mating process of the crab spider

The main purpose of this passage is to _____.

  • compare crab spiders and other spiders
  • describe the habitat of the crab spider
  • explain the movement of the crab spider
  • provide information about the crab spider

Build your vocabulary by learning these intensive phrases/idioms

If you’re serious about taking up painting, invest in good-quality brushes. After all, _____.

  • you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
  • you can't have your cake and eat it too
  • you can't make an omelet without breaking some eggs
  • you can't judge a book by its cover

Complete the second sentence, using the word given so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Do NOT change the word given in brackets in any way.

Thanks for your effort to help but I hope that you stop bothering my team right now. (LEFT)

=> I know you're trying to help, but I'd really rather you just right now.

 

A: How has Peter been handling the break-up?

B: Oh really bad, just ______ and ignoring his feelings.

  • burying his head in the sand
  • landing on his feet
  • keeping his feet on the ground
  • speading his wings

Rearrange the words in the correct order to make a complete sentence.