Name

Instructions: Read the sentences below, and mark or highlight where the dash should be placed. On the line
below the sentence, explain how the dash is used. (Hint: Some sentences may need two dashes.)

Biomimicry • Level Y • 2
1 That was all Percy Shaw needed to create the Cat’s Eye two highly reflective
spheres set into the center of the road.

2 These screens often found on computers greatly reduce glare.



3 The Eastgate Centre uses special materials and vents at the top to keep the
large building cool without air conditioning.

4 The Shinkansen a bullet train in Japan used to have a rounded nose.



5 Nature is great at making the things it needs to survive and it does so very
simply and with little waste.

6 We still have a lot to learn about nature and how it can help us create new
and better things as well as sustain life not only ours, but that of every other
life form on Earth.


Skill: Dashes

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 LEVEL Y
Quick Check Biomimicry

Name Date
Instructions: Read each question carefully and choose the best answer.

1. In which field would biomimicry 4. The author’s attitude about the

most likely be studied? benefits of biomimicry can best
be described as .
A sanitation
B recreation A optimistic
C farming B skeptical
D engineering C surprised
2. How did wearing swimsuits that D undecided
mimicked sharkskin affect 5. What did Georges de Mestral
swimmers at the 2000 invent after going for a walk
Olympic Games? through a field in 1941?
A The swimmers suffered A reflectors
small cuts on their skin.
B roof tiles
B The swimmers lost half C artificial leaves
of their races.
D Velcro
C Eighty percent of the
swimmers won medals. 6. What do termite mounds and
the Eastgate Centre in Zimbabwe
D There were no have in common?
noticeable effects.
3. A synonym for living things
A a complex system of tunnels
and vents for cooling
is .
biomimicry
B the ability to attach
A things together
B resources C tiny bumps that cause water
C organisms to bead up and roll off
D biologists D tiny grooved scales
for smooth gliding

Quick Check continued on following page

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 LEVEL Y
Quick Check (continued) Biomimicry

Name Date

7. What is most likely the reason 9. When something adapts to

the author included the section a new situation, it .
“The Future of Biomimicry”?
A is thrown away or rejected
A He believes humans can’t B decays or rots
learn to take better care
of Earth. C changes to fit a new
situation or environment
B He believes humans can’t
learn a lot from plants D becomes some other
and animals. living organism

C He believes the science 10. What is unique about spider silk?

of biomimicry can cause A Spiders work together
many problems for humans. to create silk.
D He believes that people can B It is three times stronger
learn a lot from plants and than steel.
animals and that biomimicry
can solve many of humans’ C It is the stickiest substance
created by animals.
environmental issues.
8. Which word means a community
D Spider silk is used by other
animals besides spiders.
of living things together with
their habitat? 11. Extended Response: What
is the author’s opinion about
A technology biomimicry? Use at least three
B ecosystem details from the book to support
C resource your answer. Then, describe your
own opinion about biomimicry.
D organism
12. Extended Response: Choose two
of the examples of biomimicry
from the book. Compare and
contrast the two to persuade
someone that one has greater
benefits than the other.

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Name
Instructions: List the important events from one section of Biomimicry. Then, use the information to create
a summary of the section in the Summary Box.

Who What When

Biomimicry • Level Y • 1
Where Why

Summary
Skill: Summarize

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