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Poison or Venom? | Basic Level

Vocabulary Exercises

Instructions

To complete these exercises, do the following:

  1. Read the Poison or Venom? and take good study notes to learn the content well.
  2. Study the vocabulary list below and take notes.
  3. Complete the vocabulary exercises that follow. Use your notes if needed.

Study the Vocabulary in the Passage

inject / ɪnˈdʒɛkt / verb • to force a liquid medicine, drug, or chemical into someone or something by using a needle or needle-like means.
Example: When I was in the hospital, they injected me with a powerful drug twice a day.

nerve / nɜrv / noun (plural nerves / nɜrvz / ) long, thin cells in your body that control movement and feeling by carrying messages between the brain and other parts of the body.
Example: This insect’s venom causes pain by attacking your nerves.

poison / ˈpɔɪ zən / noun • a substance that can cause people or animals to die or to become very sick if it gets into their bodies especially by being eaten or swallowed.
Example: In the story, the man almost died because someone put poison in his drink.

poisonous / ˈpɔɪ zən əz/ noun • having poison in it; causing sickness or death by entering or touching the body.
Example: Never eat the fruit from this tree. It’s highly poisonous!

sting / stɪŋ / noun • an injury caused when an insect or animal stings (or “bites”) you.
Example: Bee stings can be very painful.

sting / stɪŋ / verb • sting, stinging, stung, stung (of insects, plants, or animals) to break the skin with a sharp, pointed part that may contain venom.
Example: A bee stung me in the garden.

stinger / stɪŋ ər / noun • the sharp, pointed part that some insects and plants use to break the skin to cause pain or inject venom into their victim.
Example: When a bee stings you, it loses its stinger and dies shortly afterwards.

toxin / ˈtɒk sɪn / noun • a poisonous substance or chemical, especially one that is produced by an animal or plant.
Example: Stay away from this plant! It has a powerful toxin that can make you sick.

venom / ˈvɛn əm / noun • poisonous substance or chemical that some animals (certain snakes, spiders, insects) introduce into the bodies of their victims by biting, stinging, etc.
Example: This spider’s venom is very powerful.

venomous / ˈvɛn əm əz/ adjective • something that has venom and can hurt you.
Example: Some snakes are friendly, but some can be very venomous.

 

Vocabulary Exercise 1: Instructions

Fill in the blanks with one of the vocabulary words in the passage. Type the whole word in the blank provided, paying close attention to spelling and word form.

1. Bees use their to inject venom into their victims.

stingers

2. This snake’s has a very powerful that affects your nervous system.

This snake’s venom has a very powerful toxin that affects your nervous system.

3. Leave that bee alone! It’s going to you.

… It’s going to sting you.

4. There are many snakes in Australia.

poisonous

5. Snakes use their fangs to venom into your body when they bite you.

inject

 

Vocabulary Exercise 2: Instructions

Fill in each blank with the vocabulary word that matches the meaning provided. Type the whole word in the blank provided, paying close attention to spelling and word form.

1. • to use something sharp to break the skin (speaking about certain insects)

sting

2. • a harmful substance made by plants or animals

toxin

3. • a toxin that is dangerous if eaten, touched, or breathed in.

poison

4. • a harmful substance that an animal puts into another body.

venom

5. • to put something into the body with a bite or needle.

inject

Have you completed the Reading Comprehension yet? If so, congratulations! You’re done.

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