The defoliation of millions of acres of trees by massive infestations

Question

The defoliation of millions of acres of trees by massive infestations of gypsy moth caterpillars is a recurring phenomenon in the northeastern United States. In studying these outbreaks, scientists have discovered that affected trees fight back by releasing toxic chemicals, mainly phenols, into their foliage. These noxious substances limit caterpillars’ growth and reduce the number of eggs that female moths lay. Phenols also make the eggs smaller, which reduces the growth of the following year’s caterpillars. Because the number of eggs a female moth produces is directly related to her size, and because her size is determined entirely by her feeding success as a caterpillar,  the trees’ defensive mechanism has an impact on moth fecundity.

The gypsy moth is also subject to attack by the nucleopolyhedrosis virus, or wilt disease, a particularly important killer of the caterpillars in outbreak years. Caterpillars contract wilt disease when they eat a leaf to which the virus, encased in a protein globule, has become attached. Once ingested by a caterpillar, the protein globule dissolves, releasing thousands of viruses, or virions, that after about two weeks multiply enough to fill the entire body cavity. When the caterpillar dies, the virions are released to the outside, encased in a new protein globule synthesized from the caterpillar’s tissues and ready to be picked up by other caterpillars.

Knowing that phenols, including tannins, often act by associating with and altering the activity of proteins, researchers focused on the effects on caterpillars of ingesting the virus and leaves together. They found that on tannin-rich oak leaves, the virus is considerably less effective at killing caterpillars than when it is on aspen leaves, which are lower in phenols. In general, the more concentrated the phenols in tree leaves, the less deadly the virus. Thus, while highly concentrated phenols in tree leaves reduce the caterpillar population by limiting the size of caterpillars and, consequently, the size of the female’s egg cluster, these same chemicals also help caterpillars survive by disabling the wilt virus. Forest stands of red oaks, with their tannin-rich foliage, may even provide caterpillars with safe havens from disease. In stands dominated by trees such as aspen, however, incipient gypsy moth outbreaks are quickly suppressed by viral epidemics.

Further research has shown that caterpillars become virtually immune to the wilt virus as the trees on which they feed respond to increasing defoliation. The trees’ own defenses raise the threshold of caterpillar vulnerability to the disease, allowing populations to grow denser without becoming more susceptible to infection. For these reasons, the benefits to the caterpillars of ingesting phenols appear to outweigh the costs. Given the presence of the virus, the trees’ defensive tactic apparently has backfired.     1 
 1. Which of the following statements best expresses the main point of the passage?

(A) Recurring outbreaks of infestation by gypsy moth caterpillars have had a devastating impact on trees in the northeastern United States.
(B) A mechanism used by trees to combat the threat from gypsy moth caterpillars has actually made some trees more vulnerable to that threat.
(C) Although deadly to gypsy moth caterpillars, wilt disease has failed to significantly affect the population density of the caterpillars.
(D) The tree species with the highest levels of phenols in their foliage are the most successful in defending themselves against gypsy moth caterpillars.
(E) In their efforts to develop new methods for controlling gypsy moth caterpillars, researchers have focused on the effects of phenols in tree leaves on the insects’ growth and reproduction.

2 
 2. In lines 12-14, the phrase “the trees’ defensive mechanism has an impact on moth fecundity” ( Highlighted ) refers to which of the following phenomena?

(A) Female moths that ingest phenols are more susceptible to wilt virus, which causes them to lay smaller eggs.
(B) Highly concentrated phenols in tree leaves limit caterpillars’ food supply, thereby reducing the gypsy moth population.
(C) Phenols attack the protein globule that protects moth egg clusters, making them vulnerable to wilt virus and lowering their survival rate.
(D) Phenols in oak leaves drive gypsy moths into forest stands dominated by aspens, where they succumb to viral epidemics.
(E) The consumption of phenols by caterpillars results in undersized female gypsy moths, which tend to produce small egg clusters.

3 
 3. It can be inferred from the passage that wilt disease virions depend for their survival on

(A) protein synthesized from the tissues of a host caterpillar
(B) aspen leaves with high concentrations of phenols
(C) tannin-rich oak leaves
(D) nutrients that they synthesize from gypsy moth egg clusters
(E) a rising threshold of caterpillar vulnerability to wilt disease

4 
 4. Which of the following, if true, would most clearly demonstrate the operation of the trees’ defensive mechanism as it is described in the first paragraph of the passage?

(A) Caterpillars feeding on red oaks that were more than 50 percent defoliated grew to be only two-thirds the size of those feeding on trees with relatively intact foliage.
(B) Oak leaves in areas unaffected by gypsy moths were found to have higher levels of tannin on average than aspen leaves in areas infested with gypsy moths.
(C) The survival rate of gypsy moth caterpillars exposed to the wilt virus was 40 percent higher for those that fed on aspen leaves than for those that ate oak leaves.
(D) Female gypsy moths produced an average of 25 percent fewer eggs in areas where the wilt virus flourished than did moths in areas that were free of the virus.
(E) Gypsy moth egg clusters deposited on oak trees were found to have relatively large individual eggs compared to those deposited on aspen trees.

5 
 5. Which of the following best describes the function of the third paragraph of the passage?

(A) It resolves a contradiction between the ideas presented in the first and second paragraphs.
(B) It introduces research data to support the theory outlined in the second paragraph.
(C) It draws a conclusion from conflicting evidence presented in the first two paragraphs.
(D) It shows how phenomena described in the first and second paragraphs act in combination.
(E) It elaborates on the thesis introduced in the first paragraph after a digression in the second paragraph.

6 
 6. It can be inferred from the passage that gypsy moth caterpillars become immune to the wilt virus as a result of

(A) consuming a wide range of nutrients from a variety of leaf types
(B) feeding on leaves that contain high levels of phenols
(C) producing fewer offspring, which favors the survival of the hardiest individuals
(D) ingesting the virus together with leaves that do not contain tannin
(E) growing population density, which outstrips the ability of the virus to multiply and spread

7 
 7. Which of the following statements about gypsy moth caterpillars is supported by information presented in the passage?

(A) Wilt disease is more likely to strike small gypsy moth caterpillars than large ones.
(B) The concentration of phenols in tree leaves increases as the gypsy moth caterpillar population dies off.
(C) Female gypsy moth caterpillars stop growing after they ingest leaves containing phenols.
(D) Differing concentrations of phenols in leaves have differing effects on the ability of the wilt virus to kill gypsy moth caterpillars.
(E) The longer a gypsy moth population is exposed to wilt disease, the greater the likelihood that the gypsy moth caterpillars will become immune to the virus.

RC Butler 2021  -  Practice Two RC Questions Everyday.   
Passage # 151 Date: 16-Apr-2021
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Oppenheimer1945 · Answer

Q4) please explain why not E? It is also showing the Defense mechanism of two different type of leaves (with diff phenol content)

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Sajjad1994 · Answer

The question is not about the comparison between aspen trees and oak trees at all. (E) discuss nothing that can be related to the question. Out of scope.

thakurrani81 · Answer

Is it really a sub -600 pasage? just asking cause it is easy but time consuming one

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Here it is:

Question #1: 600
Question #2: 500
Question #3: 600
Question #4: 700
Question #5: 600
Question #6: 550
Question #7: 600

Overall: 600

Devayusssh · Answer

Please tell the answer of Q6.

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RS1908 · Answer

Need explanations for Q2

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

6. It can be inferred from the passage that gypsy moth caterpillars become immune to the wilt virus as a result of

Difficulty Level:   550

Explanation

(A)  This option is not explicitly discussed in the passage. The passage mainly focuses on the impact of phenols, particularly in tannin-rich oak leaves, on the caterpillars' susceptibility to the wilt virus.

(B)  This option is supported by the passage. The text mentions that caterpillars feeding on tannin-rich oak leaves, which contain high levels of phenols, are less affected by the wilt virus compared to caterpillars feeding on leaves with lower phenol levels.

(C)  The passage does discuss the impact of phenols on the caterpillars' reproductive success by limiting the size of caterpillars and reducing the number of eggs laid by female moths. However, the idea of producing fewer offspring as a direct mechanism for favoring survival is not explicitly stated.

(D)  The passage discusses the interaction between the virus and leaves with high levels of phenols (tannins), stating that on tannin-rich oak leaves, the virus is less effective. However, the idea of ingesting the virus with leaves that do not contain tannin is not explicitly mentioned.

(E)  This is probably the second-best but is incorrect.

Answer: B

Sajjad1994 · Answer

Explanation

2. In lines 12-14, the phrase “the trees’ defensive mechanism has an impact on moth fecundity” (Highlighted) refers to which of the following phenomena?

Difficulty Level:   500

Explanation

(A)  This option is not supported by the passage. The passage does not mention that female moths ingesting phenols are more susceptible to the wilt virus. Instead, it discusses how the phenols released by trees affect caterpillar growth and subsequently influence the number and size of eggs laid.

(B)  This option is not directly supported by the passage. The passage emphasizes that phenols limit caterpillar growth and reduce the number and size of eggs laid but doesn't explicitly state that they limit the caterpillar population by restricting the food supply.

(C)  This option is not accurate based on the information in the passage. The passage suggests that phenols, while affecting caterpillar growth and egg size, also help caterpillars survive by disabling the wilt virus. There is no mention of phenols attacking the protein globule protecting egg clusters.

(D)  This option is not supported by the passage. The passage does mention that forest stands dominated by trees such as aspen suppress gypsy moth outbreaks quickly due to viral epidemics, but it doesn't attribute this to the presence of phenols in oak leaves.

(E)  This option is supported by the passage. The text indicates that the toxic chemicals released by trees, specifically phenols, limit caterpillar growth and reduce the number of eggs that female moths lay. The smaller size of the eggs is directly related to the undersized female moths, impacting their fecundity.

Answer: E

Shivanibh25 · Answer

But it is taking reference from passage 1 and there is no mention of oak trees in passage 1..

The defoliation of millions of acres of trees by massive infestations

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The defoliation of millions of acres of trees by massive infestations

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