Examkin

Question

Difficulty: EasyExplicit Details

Leafcutter ants (*Atta cephalotes*) do not eat the leaves they harvest. Instead, they transport the cut vegetation to subterranean nests, where they use it as a substrate to cultivate a specific species of fungus (*Leucoagaricus gongylophorus*). The ants feed exclusively on this cultivated fungus, which in turn relies on the fresh leaves brought by the ants for its growth. The relationship is mutually beneficial, as the fungus provides nutrition for the ants, and the ants provide a steady supply of nutrients and protect the fungus from harmful pathogens. According to the text, what do leafcutter ants use the harvested leaves for?

  1. A
    To eat them directly as their primary source of food
  2. B
    To construct protective barriers around their nests to ward off pathogens
  3. To serve as a medium to grow a specific type of fungus that they feed onAnswer
  4. D
    To feed other insects that live inside their subterranean nests

Answer

To serve as a medium to grow a specific type of fungus that they feed on
The correct answer is supported by the passage, which states that the ants use the cut vegetation as a substrate to cultivate a specific species of fungus (*Leucoagaricus gongylophorus*) which they feed on.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Locate the mention of harvested leaves and their purpose in the text.
The text states that leafcutter ants do not eat the leaves, but instead 'use it as a substrate to cultivate a specific species of fungus.'
This identifies the explicit function of the leaves as described by the author.
2
Evaluate the answer choices against this explicit detail.
The option stating that leaves are used to grow the fungus matches this detail, while options suggesting eating leaves, constructing barriers, or feeding other insects are unsupported or contradicted.
This confirms which option is directly supported by the text.

Key Concept

Identifying explicit details within a text
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

Explicit Details

More questions from this topic