7. Revealing Coloration
Author
admin
Reading (45 seconds)
Revealing Coloration
Many animals use coloration to protect themselves from predators. One defensive strategy involving the use of coloration is what is known as revealing coloration. Animals employing this strategy have an area of bright color on some part of their body; this bright color is usually hidden from predators’ view. When approached by a predator, the animal suddenly reveals the area of bright color; this unexpected display of color startles or confuses the predator and provides the would-be prey with an opportunity to escape.
Listening
Preparation time: 30 seconds
speaking time: 1 minute
Texts
There’s a large tropic insect called the peanut bug. Yes, like the peanuts that you eat. Uh, and the peanut bug’s front wings are colored so that they blend in with their surroundings. But its back wings, which are usually closed and hidden, have these bright colorful spots on them. And when the peanut bug’s attacked, it suddenly opens its back wings and out pop these big bright colors. And that surprises the predator and gives the peanut bug a chance to get away.
And then you have a butterfly called the Morpho butterfly. And parts of the wings of Morpho butterfly are very shiny. They reflect a lot of sunlight. When this butterfly is resting, this shiny part of its wings is hidden. Now, Morpho butterfly is often attacked by birds. So when a bird approaches, the Morpho flies away when the Morpho flaps its wings. All the bird can see is a flash of light reflected from the Morpho’s wings. Those flashes of light make it difficult for the bird to follow the Morpho and the Morpho is usually able to get away.
Explanation
Reading part summary
The title of the reading passage: Revealing Coloration
The definition of revealing coloration: Animals employing revealing coloration strategy have an area of bright color on some part of their body.
Listening part summary
The first example is a large tropic insect called the peanut bug.
Its front wings are colored.
They blend in with their surroundings.
But their back wings have bright colorful spots that are usually closed and hidden.
When the peanut bug is attacked, it suddenly opens its back wings and displays these big bright colors.
This display surprises the predator and the peanut bugs can have a chance to escape.
The second example given is the Morpho butterfly.
Parts of the wings of the Morpho butterfly are very shiny and reflect sunlight.
This shiny part of its wings is hidden but when a predator approaches, the Morpho flaps its wings so that sunlight is reflected from the wings.
Due to the reflection, it is hard for a predator to see the butterfly and this is the Morpho butterfly’s strategy to escape from an attack.
(Sample answer)
The reading passage introduces the concept of revealing coloration, wherein animals possess bright areas of color on their bodies.
In the lecture, the professor offers examples to illustrate this phenomenon. The first example pertains to the peanut bug, a large tropical insect. The front wings of the peanut bug blend seamlessly with its surroundings, while its back wings feature brightly colored spots that are typically concealed. However, when the peanut bug is threatened, it suddenly reveals these colorful spots by opening its back wings. This sudden display startles predators, providing the peanut bug with an opportunity to escape unscathed.
The professor’s second example involves the Morpho butterfly. Certain parts of the Morpho butterfly’s wings are highly reflective and shine brightly in sunlight. These reflective areas are normally hidden, but when a predator approaches, the Morpho flaps its wings, causing sunlight to bounce off its wings. This reflection of sunlight makes it challenging for predators to spot the butterfly, serving as a strategy for the Morpho to evade potential attacks.
Revealing Coloration
Many animals use coloration to protect themselves from predators. One defensive strategy involving the use of coloration is what is known as revealing coloration. Animals employing this strategy have an area of bright color on some part of their body; this bright color is usually hidden from predators’ view. When approached by a predator, the animal suddenly reveals the area of bright color; this unexpected display of color startles or confuses the predator and provides the would-be prey with an opportunity to escape.
Listening
Preparation time: 30 seconds
speaking time: 1 minute
Texts
There’s a large tropic insect called the peanut bug. Yes, like the peanuts that you eat. Uh, and the peanut bug’s front wings are colored so that they blend in with their surroundings. But its back wings, which are usually closed and hidden, have these bright colorful spots on them. And when the peanut bug’s attacked, it suddenly opens its back wings and out pop these big bright colors. And that surprises the predator and gives the peanut bug a chance to get away.
And then you have a butterfly called the Morpho butterfly. And parts of the wings of Morpho butterfly are very shiny. They reflect a lot of sunlight. When this butterfly is resting, this shiny part of its wings is hidden. Now, Morpho butterfly is often attacked by birds. So when a bird approaches, the Morpho flies away when the Morpho flaps its wings. All the bird can see is a flash of light reflected from the Morpho’s wings. Those flashes of light make it difficult for the bird to follow the Morpho and the Morpho is usually able to get away.
Explanation
Reading part summary
The title of the reading passage: Revealing Coloration
The definition of revealing coloration: Animals employing revealing coloration strategy have an area of bright color on some part of their body.
Listening part summary
The first example is a large tropic insect called the peanut bug.
Its front wings are colored.
They blend in with their surroundings.
But their back wings have bright colorful spots that are usually closed and hidden.
When the peanut bug is attacked, it suddenly opens its back wings and displays these big bright colors.
This display surprises the predator and the peanut bugs can have a chance to escape.
The second example given is the Morpho butterfly.
Parts of the wings of the Morpho butterfly are very shiny and reflect sunlight.
This shiny part of its wings is hidden but when a predator approaches, the Morpho flaps its wings so that sunlight is reflected from the wings.
Due to the reflection, it is hard for a predator to see the butterfly and this is the Morpho butterfly’s strategy to escape from an attack.
(Sample answer)
The reading passage introduces the concept of revealing coloration, wherein animals possess bright areas of color on their bodies.
In the lecture, the professor offers examples to illustrate this phenomenon. The first example pertains to the peanut bug, a large tropical insect. The front wings of the peanut bug blend seamlessly with its surroundings, while its back wings feature brightly colored spots that are typically concealed. However, when the peanut bug is threatened, it suddenly reveals these colorful spots by opening its back wings. This sudden display startles predators, providing the peanut bug with an opportunity to escape unscathed.
The professor’s second example involves the Morpho butterfly. Certain parts of the Morpho butterfly’s wings are highly reflective and shine brightly in sunlight. These reflective areas are normally hidden, but when a predator approaches, the Morpho flaps its wings, causing sunlight to bounce off its wings. This reflection of sunlight makes it challenging for predators to spot the butterfly, serving as a strategy for the Morpho to evade potential attacks.