Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002 68 3 Watson, Irvine, CA 92618•Phone (888)SDL-BACK•www.sdlback.com
Na m e : ___ _
Directions:Date:Read the passage and questions. Fill in the bubbles of the correct answers and
write a brief summary of this article on the lines below. Use the back of this page
as needed.Hey, you are smart but no one can remember every
detail of what was read. That’s why summarizing is
so cool—just boil it down to the essential information.- Which sentence best states the main idea of the story?
O Melanophia beetles are sometimes called “fire beetles.”
O One type of beetle can sense the presence of fire.
O The melanophia beetle can sense a blaze 30 miles away.
O The melanophia beetle larvae feed on freshly burnt wood. - Which would be the best title for this story?
O Six-Legged Firefighters O The Amazing Melanophia
O First on the Scene O Fire Alarm
Melanophia are a type of beetle with an amazing
ability—they can sense the presence of fire. When
a fire breaks out, melanophia can detect the blaze
up to 30 miles away. Their larvae feed on freshly
burnt wood, so melanophia rush to the scene
where they lay their eggs in the charred timbers.
Often as firefighters arrive, they find melanophia
by the hundreds already there. Some firefighters
report being bitten. Because of their attraction to
and need for fire, melanophia are often called
“fire beetles.”Summary: __