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Question

Difficulty: EasyIdentifying Explicit Details

The following passage is adapted from an article on desert ecology and bio-inspired engineering:

In the hyper-arid Namib Desert along the southwestern coast of Africa, annual rainfall is exceedingly rare. Yet, the Namib Desert beetle (*Stenocara gracilipes*) thrives by extracting moisture directly from morning ocean fogs. The key to this remarkable survival strategy lies in the micro-structure of the beetle's hardened forewings, or elytra.

The surface of the elytra features a microscopic array of smooth, hydrophilic (water-attracting) bumps interspersed throughout a wax-coated, hydrophobic (water-repelling) trough region. When fog rolls across the dunes, the beetle tilts its body upward into the wind—a behavior known as fog-basking. Droplets of airborne water accumulate on the hydrophilic peaks of the bumps. Because the surrounding troughs repel water, the droplets remain anchored to the peaks, growing progressively larger as more fog condenses. Once a droplet reaches a critical diameter of approximately five millimeters, its weight overcomes the electrostatic forces holding it to the peak. The droplet detaches and rolls down the hydrophobic trough directly into the beetle’s mouthparts.

Based on the passage, arrange the steps of the Namib Desert beetle's water-collection process in the exact chronological order in which they explicitly occur, from first to last.

  1. 1The beetle tilts its body upward into the wind in a posture known as fog-basking.
  2. 2Airborne water droplets condense and collect on the hydrophilic peaks of the elytra.
  3. 3Growing droplets reach a size where their weight overcomes electrostatic attraction to the peak.
  4. 4Detached water droplets travel down the wax-coated hydrophobic troughs to the beetle's mouthparts.

Answer

The correct chronological order of events is: 1) The beetle tilts its body upward into the wind in a posture known as fog-basking; 2) Airborne water droplets condense and collect on the hydrophilic peaks of the elytra; 3) Growing droplets reach a size where their weight overcomes electrostatic attraction to the peak; 4) Detached water droplets travel down the wax-coated hydrophobic troughs to the beetle's mouthparts.
The passage outlines the process in explicit chronological order: first, the beetle tilts upward into the wind ('fog-basking'); second, water droplets collect on the hydrophilic peaks; third, the droplets grow until their weight overcomes electrostatic forces; fourth, the released droplets roll down the hydrophobic troughs to the mouthparts.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the beginning of the water-harvesting process described in the text.
The text states that when fog arrives, 'the beetle tilts its body upward into the wind—a behavior known as fog-basking.'
This behavioral positioning must happen first before water can condense on the shell.
2
Identify the immediate next explicit detail following fog-basking.
The text states: 'Droplets of airborne water accumulate on the hydrophilic peaks of the bumps.'
Water gathering on the peaks is the direct result of fog making contact with the tilted beetle.
3
Track what happens as the droplets continue to gather water on the peaks.
The text explains that 'droplets remain anchored... growing progressively larger' until 'its weight overcomes the electrostatic forces holding it to the peak.'
The growth and detachment of the droplet due to weight occurs after initial accumulation.
4
Identify the final explicit outcome of droplet detachment.
The text states: 'The droplet detaches and rolls down the hydrophobic trough directly into the beetle’s mouthparts.'
Rolling down to the mouthparts completes the collection process.

Key Concept

Identifying Stated Sequence of Events
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Topics

Identifying Explicit Details

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