Academic Vocabulary: Academic Words - Olsen Amy E. 2012

Chapter 4. Biology

The Natural World

Introduction

Biology looks at various aspects of life from minute bacteria to giant sequoias. The world around you can be a biology classroom. For example, consider the flora and fauna in your area. You many live in a place where the plants include cactus and ocotillo or alternatively cedar trees and lilies. The animals near you might include tarantulas and snakes or raccoons and deer.

Biology examines how plants and animals interact to create an ecosystem. For example, some plants and animals have parasitic relationships. In these situations, one organism lives off the other without helping the host. To illustrate, the mistletoe plant attaches itself to

the oak tree and uses the moisture and food from the tree to feed itself. Sometimes the mistletoe can get so large that it ends up killing its host. On the other hand, some organisms have symbiotic relationships. Lichen, found on rocks and trees, are plants made up of a fungus and an alga growing together. The fungi use the food made by the algae, and the algae use the water absorbed by the fungi. The two materials help each other survive. About sixteen thousand species of lichen have been identified. In Africa, a symbiotic relationship is displayed when the Egyptian plover removes parasites from the teeth of crocodiles. The crocodiles get their teeth cleaned, while the birds get a good meal.

Biology also studies the changes that are part of the natural world. One example of a transformation is seen in the life of the butterfly. Butterflies go through a four-stage metamorphosis from egg to larva (a caterpillar) to pupa (the resting stage) to adult. The colorful butterflies fluttering about in spring are in the adult stage. Another change is observable in trees. Deciduous trees (i.e., oak and maple) present colorful displays that result in a loss of leaves each autumn. The falling leaves denote that winter is on its way, and the trees will no longer have enough sunlight to produce green leaves. In contrast, evergreens (i.e., cedar and pine) do not lose their needles; therefore, they remain green all year.

As this introduction suggests, plants and animals are fascinating subjects. Because each plant and animal is an intrinsic part of its environment, a disturbance to any species can have a significant impact. At times humans clash with nature, but, as you will come to see, this text emphasizes ways that the needs of the natural world and humans often coincide.

Predicting

For each set, write the definition on the line next to the word to which it belongs. If you are unsure, return to the reading on page 26, and underline any context clues you find. After you've made your predictions, check your answers against the Word List on page 3 I. Place a checkmark in the box next to each word whose definition you missed. These are the words you'll want to study closely.

Set One

organisms having some common qualities

living off another species

animals

plants

pertaining to the living together of dissimilar organisms

□ 1. flora (line 4) ...

□ 2. fauna (line 5) ...

□ 3. parasitic (line 11) ...

□ 4. symbiotic (line 15) ...

□ 5. species (line 18) ...

Set Two

to be identical

to indicate

shedding the leaves annually

relating to the essential nature of a thing

a change in form

□ 6. metamorphosis (line 22) ...

□ 7. deciduous (line 24) ...

□ 8. denote (line 25) ...

□ 9. intrinsic (line 30) ...

□ 10. coincide (line 34) ...

Self-Tests

1 Circle the word that best completes each sentence.

1. It is great that our class schedules (denote, coincide); carpooling will be so easy.

2. After just three days of kindergarten, the child's (intrinsic, metamorphosis) from being extremely afraid to feeling confident was amazing.

3. The (fauna, flora) in the desert, from the brittle bush to the ocotillo plant, really bloom in the spring after a shower.

4. The blossoms on the trees (denote, coincide) that spring is on its way.

5. The roommates' relationship became. quite (symbiotic, parasitic) as they helped each other with homework and chores based on their strengths.

6. The (fauna, flora) in the woods include small animals such as squirrels and bigger animals like bears.

7. Generosity seems to be a(n) (intrinsic, symbiotic) quality in Kiko; she is always ready to give her time to help others.

8. Autumn is a lovely time of year because the (parasitic, deciduous) trees in our neighborhood tum beautiful colors.

9. My friendship with Joanne started out well, but it has become (symbiotic, parasitic); all she does now is ask me for money and favors.

10. There are several (species, metamorphosis) of birds in the marsh, so we should have a great time bird watching this morning.

2 Finish the journal entries using the vocabulary words. Use each word once.

Set One

Vocabulary list

metamorphosis

fauna

coincide

parasitic

symbiotic

March 23, 2012

Several trees are starting to blossom. I am lucky to be able to experience the (1) ... of the forest. I am also fortunate that my birthday and the start of my favorite season (2) ... . I spied a deer during my walk. Of all the (3) ... in the forest, the deer are my favorite. They are such beautiful creatures. I have always been afraid that my relationship with nature has been a (4) ... one. I get so much enjoyment from plants and animals, but I have never felt that I have been able to give anything in return. Yesterday circumstances changed. I signed up to be a docent, and now the relationship can be (5) ... . I can find peace from the forest, but I can also help to protect it by educating people about the joys of nature.

Set Two

Vocabulary list

intrinsic

species

denote

deciduous

flora

October 5, 2012

My early morning hike in the forest was amazing. The air was crisp, and wispy clouds blew across the sky. The (6) ... trees are beginning to lose their leaves. Red, gold, and orange leaves carpeted the ground. The (7) ... had a magical quality: the flowers danced, and the frees whispered to me. Each plant seemed to (8) ... that the day was alive to possibilities. Every (9) ... of plant had advice to offer, from the oak telling me to be strong to the dandelion urging me to go where the wind takes me. The (10) ... beauty of nature definitely showed itself to me this mourning.

3 Match each word with its synonym in Set One and its antonym in Set Two.

Synonyms

Set One

1. flora  

a. animals

2. symbiotic

b. agree

3. fauna    

c. beneficial

4. species

d. plants

5. coincide

e. kind

Antonyms

Set Two

6. deciduous

f. symbiotic

7. intrinsic   

g. permanent

8. parasitic

h. evergreen

9. denote

i. marginal

10. metamorphosis 

j. conceal

Word Pairs

Flora/Fauna: Flora (Chapter 4) means "the plants of a given region or period taken as a whole." Fauna (Chapter 4) means "the animals of a given region or period taken as a whole." In exploring the forest flora, I saw several cedars and fems, and squirrels and deer appeared to be the predominant fauna.

Parasitic/Symbiotic: Parasitic (Chapter 4) means "per­taining to a parasite, such as a person who takes advan­tage of others." On the other hand, symbiotic (Chapter 4) can mean "any mutually beneficial relationship." My last romance involved a parasitic relationship—all my girlfriend cared about was my money. I am now looking

for a symbiotic relationship where we can share interests and emotions.

Interesting Etymologies

Parasite (Chapter 4) comes from the Greek para, "beside," and sitos, "grain or food." Together parasitos originally meant "fellow guest." It came to mean in ancient Greece a professional dinner guest who was invited to amuse or flatter the host. By the 1500s, the meaning had expanded to "a person who takes advantage of others," which today could still be by eating often at someone's house and not returning the favor.

Interactive Version: Pick one of the photographs, and imagine yourself in the environment shown. Use your imagination to complete the worksheet below. Use at least five of the vocabulary words in your answers.

1. List at least two types of flora and fauna that you observed. How many different species do you estimate you saw? Did you see any deciduous trees?

2. If you were to return to this environment at another time of year what type of metamorphosis would you expect to see? How would you be able to denote these changes?

3. Do humans have a more symbiotic or parasitic relationship with this environment? Give an example. How do the goals of humans and nature coincide in this environment?

4. Do people have an intrinsic love of or respect for nature or is it a skill we must learn?

Conversation starters

An excellent way to review the vocabulary words and help to make them your own is to use them when you are speaking. Gather three to five friends or classmates, and use one or more of the con­versation starters below: Before you begin talking, have each person write down six of the vocabu­lary words he or she will use during the conversation. Share your lists with each other to check that you did not all pick the same six words. Try to cover all of the words you want to study, whether you are reviewing one, two, or more chapters.

1. What are two significant events in American history? Why are these events important?

2. Discuss what you like and don't like about the writing process.

3. How do you use math skills in your daily life? Think about a variety of activities.

4. Do you enjoy nature? What type of environment do you most like to visit?:

Words to Watch

Which words would you like to practice with a bit more? Pick 3-5 words to study, and list them below. Write the word and its definition, and compose your own sentence using the word correctly. This extra practice could be the final touch to learning a word.