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These Ants Blow Themselves Up to Protect Their Homes

亚洲的一些蚂蚁会爆炸以保护它们的家园。
亚洲的 YA-zhou de Asia
一些 YI-xie Some
蚂蚁 MA-yi ants
会 hui in
爆炸 BAO-zha explode
以 yi to
保护 BAO-hu protect
它们的 TA-men de their
家园。 JIA-yuan homes.
蚂蚁体内有胶状物。
蚂蚁 MA-yi The ants
体内 TI-nei bodies
有 you have
胶状物。 JIAO-zhuang wu goo.
爆炸会用粘性胶状物覆盖敌人。
爆炸 BAO-zha The explosion
会 hui covers
用 yong with
粘性 NIAN-xing sticky
胶状物 JIAO-zhuang wu goo
覆盖 FU-gai covers
敌人。 DI-ren enemies.
蚂蚁爆炸时会死亡。
蚂蚁 MA-yi The ant
爆炸 BAO-zha explodes
时 shi when
会 hui it
死亡。 SI-wang dies.
当危险来临时，蚂蚁会用力挤压自己的身体。
当 dang When
危险 WEI-xian danger
来临时， LAI-lin shi comes,
蚂蚁 MA-yi an ant
会 hui squeezes
用力 YONG-li hard
挤压 JI-ya squeezes
自己的 ZI-ji de its
身体。 SHEN-ti body.
这会使蚂蚁爆开。
这 zhe This
会 hui makes
使 shi makes
蚂蚁 MA-yi the ant
爆开。 BAO-kai pop open.
胶状物阻止敌人移动。
胶状物 JIAO-zhuang wu The goo
阻止 ZU-zhi stops
敌人 DI-ren enemies
移动。 YI-dong from moving.
爆炸蚂蚁在爆炸前常常抓住更大的虫子。
爆炸 BAO-zha Exploding
蚂蚁 MA-yi ants
在 zai often
爆炸 BAO-zha they pop
前 qian before
常常 CHANG-chang often
抓住 ZHUA-zhu grab onto
更大的 GENG-da de bigger
虫子。 CHONG-zi bugs.

Sources:

Test your comprehension

What do some ants in Asia do to protect their homes?

  • They fly away
  • 爆炸
  • They hide underground
  • They call for help

What substance do the ants have inside them?

  • 水
  • 胶状物
  • 空气
  • 油

What happens to the ants when they explode?

  • 它们会死亡
  • 它们变得更强
  • 它们可以重新生长
  • 它们会逃跑

What do the explosive ants often grab before exploding?

  • 小虫子
  • 更大的虫子
  • 树叶
  • 食物

Grammar cards for this story

Present Simple Tense

  • Example: “蚂蚁会爆炸以保护它们的家园.”
  • Explanation: The present simple tense is used here to describe a habitual action or a general truth. It indicates that ants regularly explode to protect their homes.

Future Tense

  • Example: “当危险来临时，蚂蚁会用力挤压自己的身体.”
  • Explanation: The future tense is indicated by “会,” which shows that the action will occur when danger arrives. It conveys a sense of certainty about a future event.

Modal Verbs

  • Example: “这会使蚂蚁爆开.”
  • Explanation: The modal verb “会” (will) is used to express a possibility or likelihood. It indicates that the action of exploding will happen as a result of the previous action.

Passive Voice

  • Example: “胶状物阻止敌人移动.”
  • Explanation: The passive voice is implied in this sentence, as it emphasizes the action of the sticky substance preventing the enemy from moving, rather than focusing on who or what is performing the action.
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