Question

11th grade pre-assessment

for some organisms, bioluminescence can attract a mate. fireflies flicker to attract mates as well as prey, and males and females have different flashing patterns to distinguish them. some fireflies can even synchronize their flashes, which is known as simultaneous bioluminescence. this usually occurs in groups of male fireflies, called leks, that flash their lights at the same time to attract females.

10 humans have a history of adapting bioluminescence for their own purposes. indigenous peoples in indonesia once used bioluminescent fungi to find their way in the dark. before the invention of electrical lights, miners in need of safety lamps captured fireflies in jars to help navigate in the pitch black of underground tunnels.

for scientists, the most exciting applications for bioluminescence are still being developed. certain bioluminescent bacteria can be utilized to monitor water quality. when these bacteria encounter a form of pollution, their glow dims, signaling potential water contamination. with the genes responsible for certain fungi’s glow, scientists are researching ways to engineer trees that glow at night, eliminating the need for electric street lamps. glowing house plants could also reduce the need for

assessment questions
which statement best describes the likely purpose of paragraph 9?
a. to elaborate on how certain insect species produce bioluminescence
b. to describe how some organisms use bioluminescence to frighten predators
c. to explain how bioluminescent insects differ from bioluminescent ocean organisms
d. to provide an example of an organism that uses bioluminescence to attract a mate

Explanation:

1. Analyze Option A: The paragraph does not discuss how insect species produce bioluminescence, so A is incorrect.
2. Analyze Option B: The paragraph focuses on attracting mates (and prey) with bioluminescence, not frightening predators, so B is incorrect.
3. Analyze Option C: There is no comparison between bioluminescent insects and ocean organisms in the paragraph, so C is incorrect.
4. Analyze Option D: The paragraph talks about fireflies (an organism) using bioluminescence (flickering, synchronizing flashes) to attract mates (males attracting females), which matches the description in D.

Answer:

D. to provide an example of an organism that uses bioluminescence to attract a mate