Making Medicines out of Millipedes Reading Answers

May 7, 2025

Making Medicines out of Millipedes Reading Answers is an academic reading answers topic. Making Medicines out of Millipedes Reading Answers has a total of 13 IELTS questions in total.

In the question set you have to match each research finding with the correct researcher (A-C). In the next question set given, you have to fill the blanks with the correct option in no more than two words. In the last question set you have to complete each sentence with the correct ending from the given options (A-F)

The IELTS Reading section is an essential part of the test that evaluates a candidate's comprehension and analysis of various passage types. You will work through a number of IELTS reading practice problems in this section that resemble actual test situations. These questions are designed to help you improve your ability to recognize essential concepts, extract particular facts, and make inferences. Practicing these IELTS reading problems can help you get comfortable with the structure and increase your confidence for the exam, regardless of whether you are studying for the Academic or General Training module.

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Section 1 MAKING MEDICINE OUT OF MILLIPEDES

Generally speaking, it is never a good idea to put a millipede in your mouth. After all, millipedes are known to produce an array of toxic secretions that keep predators at bay. Some species can even cause chemical burns. However, in November of 2016, animal behaviorist Louise Peckre watched as a female red-fronted lemur in Madagascar's Ki rindy Forest picked up a giant millipede. The creature began alternating between chewing on the noxious critter and massaging it into the fur around her tail and sex organs. Finally, she gobbled the arthropod down. As Peckre watched, the lemur then found two more millipedes and went through the routine all over again. By the time she was finished, the lemur's bottom half was visibly soaked with a frothy mix of saliva and the arthropod's electric orange secretions. Later that day, she witnessed five more lemurs from two separate groups perform the same bizarre behavior. The animals hadn't previously been witnessed eating these animals, or, of course, rubbing them all over. What did it all mean?

It's too soon to say for sure, says Peckre, who is studying lemur communication at the German Primate Center. But in a paper published this week in the journal Primates. She and her coauthors make a compelling case that the red-fronted lemurs may be using the millipede

secretions to self-medicate against intestinal parasites. To understand why the red-fronted lemurs might rub toxins on their genitals, first you have to understand that this species harbors a greater variety of gastrointestinal parasites than any other lemur species. What's more, some of these nematodes can cause itchy rashes around the lemurs' backsides when the adult worms exit the anus to lay their eggs on the surrounding skin.

Studies have shown that one of the toxic chemicals millipedes produce is called benzoquinone, a substance which has been proven to have insecticidal and antimicrobial properties. While benzoquinone is probably used by the millipedes to avoid getting eaten, the lemurs seem

to have learned how to extract the chemical for their own uses. Derek Hennen, an entomologist studying millipedes at Virginia Tech, said the vigorous rubbing the lemurs use is a smart tactic. "Millipedes will secrete more toxins when continually disturbed,' says Hennen. “If they immediately erupted in toxins upon the slightest bump, it wouldn't be a very good defense because it takes time to make new toxins.” Red-fronted lemurs wouldn't be the first animals observed self-medicating. For instance, orangutans were recently discovered chewing up leaves with known anti-inflammatory properties and applying them to their skin. Other lemurs, chimpanzees, brown bears, and hedgehogs are among the other animals that perform so -called self-anointing behavior. “Some use plants, some use ants, and some use millipedes,'

says Michael Huffman of the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University.

Interestingly, Huffman says this is the first time anyone has documented millipede ingestion for potential medicinal uses. Usually the animals just apply the millipedes topically. Hennen was also unaware of any instances where an animal has been seen eating a millipede for medicinal purposes. Because millipedes are not thought to be a valuable food source for red-fronted lemurs, Peckre and her co authors hypothesize that the animals may be eating them for other reasons. Specifically, the scientists think a few doses of millipedes could help prevent future parasitic infestations. It's unclear how the animals are able to stomach the poisonous arthropods, but the rubbing behavior may help detoxify the millipedes. A similar behavior has been seen in birds that rub formic-acid-secreting ants on their feathers, possibly as a way to make the ants edible.

Oddly, fecal analysis shows red-fronted lemurs experience a surge in parasites at the beginning of the rainy season, which is precisely the time of year millipedes tend to emerge from the ground. It's almost as if the lemurs' pharmacy becomes available right when they need it most. (Related: Is it possible to smell weakness? Lemurs can) Huffman. who has studied self-medication in animals extensively, remains skeptical that the animals are thinking ahead, though. "The short answer here is, no, there is no good evidence for preventive care in animals," says Huffman. However, he says every animal on the planet is prone to illness and parasites. so it makes sense that each species would find ways to "address the discomfort and return to their 'normal' state," he says. But whether animals do this intentionally has not been proven. Peckre says the many remaining mysteries surrounding lemurs should spur greater efforts to conserve the ecosystems they inhabit. Fully 95 percent of lemur species are facing extinction, according to a recent meeting of the world's leading primate scientists. "The place where we are living is really threatened with deforestation," says Peckre It's a bit of a fight every day just to be able to do research here."

Questions 14-17

Look at the following research findings (Questions 14-17) and the list of researchers

below Match each research finding with the correct researcher. A-C.

Write the correct letter, A-C.

NB: YOU MAY USE ONE LETTER MORE THAN ONCE

14. It is quite difficult to conduct research in forests which are negatively affected by human behaviors.

Answer: A

Supporting statement: "The place where we are living is really threatened with deforestation," says Peckre It's a bit of a fight every day just to be able to do research here."

Keywords: deforestation, fight

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 13

Explanation: According to Louise Peckre, it is quite difficult to continue the research about the Lemur as 95 percent of lemur species are facing extinction due to the destruction of their natural habitat by human activities such as deforestation.

15. Millipedes will be unlikely to use their poison unless they are attacked many times in a row..

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Millipedes will secrete more toxins when continually disturbed,' says Hennen. “If they immediately erupted in toxins upon the slightest bump

Keywords: toxins, slightest bump

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 6-7

Explanation: According to Derek Hennen, an entomologist studying millipedes at Virginia Tech that the millipedes don't usually use their toxin continually until or unless they are disturbed frequently, as too frequent secretion of the toxins is not good for them, as it takes them some time to make new toxins.

16. Using millipedes is only one of the methods of self-medicating in nature apart from using

other insects and even plants.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: called self-anointing behavior. “Some use plants, some use ants, and some use millipedes,' says Michael Huffman of the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University.

Keywords: use, Michael Huffman

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 12-13

Explanation: According to Michael Huffman of the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University, millipedes are not the only way animals do self-care. Some animals use plant leaves, such as the orangutans, who were recently discovered chewing up leaves with known anti-inflammatory properties and applying them to their skin. Some also use ants.

17. It is understandable that some animals would by instinct find certain ways to cure

themselves of health conditions.

Answer: B

Supporting statement: are among the other animals that perform so -called self-anointing behavior.

Keywords: animals, self-anointing

Keyword Location: Para 3, Lines 11-12

Explanation: According to Michael Huffman of the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University, many animals show self-anointing behavior where they use many different kinds of things to cure their health conditions or injuries.

LIST OF RESEARCHERS

A. Louise Peckre

B. Michael Huffman

C. Derek Hennen

Questions 18-21

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS for each.

18. After being rubbed with some millipedes, the lemur's_______ was clearly seen soaking wet.

Answer: BOTTOM HALF

Supporting statement: the lemur's bottom half was visibly soaked with a frothy mix of saliva and the arthropod's electric orange secretions.

Keywords: bottom half, orange secretions

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 8-9

Explanation: According to the observation made by animal behaviorist Louise Peckre of a female red-fronted lemur eating a millipede she was amused by the way the lemur way of alternating between chewing on the noxious critter and massaging it into the fur around her tail and sex organs and then gobbling it down and repeating the same with two other millipede and after doing so the Lemur bottom half was covered with visible frothy mix of saliva and the arthropod’s electric orange secretions.

19. The red-fronted lemurs, compared to their relatives, are more susceptible to various

kinds Of__________.

Answer: GASTROINTESTINAL PARASITE

Supporting statement: First, you have to understand that this species harbors a greater variety of gastrointestinal parasites than any other lemur species.

Keywords: gastrointestinal parasites, species

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 6

Explanation: According to the text, it is clear that the red-fronted lemur is heavily infested by gastrointestinal parasites in comparison to any lemur species, which justifies their way of eating the millipedes and also the rubbing of the toxins on their genital openings as a way to prevent infection.

20. Although millipedes are not rich in nutrients, they are Still consumed by lemurs to

prevent___________ later in their life.

Answer: PARASITIC INFECTION

Supporting statement: Specifically, the scientists think a few doses of millipedes could help prevent future parasitic infestations.

Keywords: prevent, parasitic infestations

Keyword Location: Para 4, Lines 6-7

Explanation: According to the text, it is speculated by peckre and her coauthors that some animals may be eating the millipedes to prevent future parasitic infestations, but they still have no idea how these animals are able to digest the toxins found in the millipede body.

21. Humans need to protect the_____________ where the lemurs live as there are still many unknown things about this species yet to be discovered.

Answer: ECOSYSTEMS

Supporting statement: Peckre says the many remaining mysteries surrounding lemurs should spur greater efforts to conserve the ecosystems they inhabit.

Keywords: Peckre, conserve

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 10

Explanation: According to the text, it has been made clear by Peckre that it is important to preserve the ecosystem to resolve the mystery of the lemur species, as their habitat is nearly destroyed by human activities, leading to their extinction.

Questions 22-26

Complete each sentence with the correct ending,

A-F below. Write the correct letter, A-F.

22. One of the lemurs that Louise Peckre observed in Madagascar

Answer: E

Supporting statement: Finally, she gobbled the arthropod down. As Peckre watched, the lemur then found two more millipedes

Keywords: arthropod, lemur

Keyword Location: Para 1, Lines 6-7

Explanation: According to the text, the lemurs that Louise Peckre observed in Madagascar eat a total of three millipedes.

23. An article in the journal Primates says some lemurs

Answer: A

Supporting statement: But in a paper published this week in the journal Primates.

Keywords: paper, journal Primates

Keyword Location: Para 2, Line 2

Explanation: According to Peckre, who works at the German Primate Center and studies lemur communication. She and her colleagues present strong evidence that the red-fronted lemurs might be self-medicating against intestinal worms by utilising the secretions of millipedes.

24. Benzoquinone is a substance that millipedes

Answer: F

Supporting statement: While benzoquinone is probably used by the millipedes to avoid getting eat

Keywords: benzoquinone, millipedes

Keyword Location: Para 3, Line 3

Explanation: The text states that, according to research, one of the harmful compounds that millipedes make is benzoquinone, a substance that has been suggested to have antibacterial and insecticidal qualities.Although the millipedes most likely utilise benzoquinone as a self-defensive weapon to protect themselves from predators.

25. Some birds rubbed ants on their feather, possibly because they

Answer: D

Supporting statement: birds that rub formic-acid-secreting ants on their feathers, possibly as a way to make the ants edible.

Keywords: birds, ants

Keyword Location: Para 4, Line 9

Explanation: The text states that, similar to the lemur rubbing millipede onto their bottom half, some birds also rub formic acid-secreting ants on their feathers, probably in an attempt to neutralize the toxic content of those insects and make them edible.

26. The beginning of the rainy season is a precise time when lemurs

Answer: C

Supporting statement: Red-fronted lemurs experience a surge in parasites at the beginning of the rainy season, which is precisely the time of year millipedes tend to emerge from the ground.

Keywords: rainy season, emerge

Keyword Location: Para 5, Line 2

Explanation: The text mentions that the start of the rainy season correlates with an increase in parasites in red-fronted lemurs, which is also when millipedes typically appear on the ground. It seems as though the lemurs' pharmacy appears just when they need it most.

A. used millipedes to probably treat themselves from intestinal worms.

B. witnessed five more lemurs perform the same bizarre behavior.

C. heavily suffer parasites and many millipedes appear on the forest floor.

D. tried to neutralize the toxic content Of those insects to eat them.

E. used 3 millipedes to rub on its body many times.

F. used as a self-defensive weapon to protect themselves from predators.

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