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What is all this talk of cicadas lately in the United States? You might be wondering why the media has featured it, but in fact, the discussion about cicadas has emerged about as predictably as the cicadas themselves from their underground refuge. Let's get oriented with some background on cicadas. What is a cicada? A typical definition will at least tell you that the cicada is a large, loud insect with long transparent wings, mostly found in warm countries. A more detailed response might also inform you that cicadas have short antennae and wide-set eyes that jut out, with delicate, translucent wings and that not only is the cicada loud, but few creatures make a louder sound. In fact, it is male cicadas that are the noisy ones, to the tune of 80 to 100 decibels, which is like the roar of a loud engine. This is because male cicadas make a strident, high buzzing by vibrating two membranes on its abdomen called tymbals, effectively turning its body into a kind of echo chamber or drum, Female cicadas cannot replicate the buzzing, though they respond with a clicking sound when they are ready to mate. Although there are several species of cicada, mating typically takes place in trees whereafter the female deposits the eggs into the bark. Wher the eggs hatch, the larval cicadas, called nymphs, drop to the ground and burrow. They then live as nymphs for most of their lives over 6 feet underground, with both male and female cicadas dying within weeks of their emergence from the soil. This is particularly true for North American cicadas, especially the Magicicodo, or periodical cicadas, which regularly emerge in intervals of 13 or 17 years, depending on the species and the location. This is why talk of cicadas in the media is as predictable as their emergence in the US. Which of the following is the most likely reason male cicadas make a buzzing sound?

A. To attract a mate

B. To locate food sources

C. To orient via echolocation

D. To ward off predators

Answer Explanation:

The passage states that male cicadas make a strident, high buzzing sound to attract female cicadas when they are ready to mate. This indicates that the buzzing serves as a mating call to attract potential mates.

Therefore, the Correct Answer is A.

More Questions on TEAS 7 Reading

  • Q #1: Gold is a widely known metal, often used for making jewelry. Pure gold is called 24-carat gold, but there is also 14-carat gold. Because gold is a soft metal, it is sometimes combined with another metal to harden it, such as copper. Fourteen-carat gold is named as such because 14 out of the 24 carats, approximately 60%, is gold and the remaining 10 carats, or 40%, is some other metal. Which of the following is the purpose of the passage above?

    A. To compare

    B. To recommend

    C. To inform

    D. To analyze

    Answer Explanation

    The passage provides information about the characteristics and composition of gold, including its purity levels and the reason for using alloys like 14-carat gold.

  • Q #2: A student is looking for information about the periodic table in a chemistry textbook. Which of the following textbook features should the student use to find the pages where this topic is discussed?

    A. References

    B. Glossary

    C. Index

    D. Appendix

    Answer Explanation

    The index typically lists topics alphabetically along with page numbers where they are discussed in the textbook. By looking up "periodic table" in the index, the student can quickly locate the relevant pages.

  • Q #3: Tommy pulled off his boots, carefully using the brush he kept on the porch to clean the mud off of them. When he came inside, he followed his daily ritual of climbing the stairs to the laundry room and carefully removing his coveralls. As he did every day, he changed into the clean white T- shirt and lounge pants that he'd left sitting next to the washing machine. Based on the passage, which of the following words describes Tommy?

    A. Idle

    B. Slow

    C. Considerate

    D. Meticulous

    Answer Explanation

    Tommy is shown to be careful and precise in his actions, such as cleaning his boots and changing his clothes in a specific routine.