10-Minute News Challenge
Science : Crossword
FirstNews
Issue 449
23rd - 29th Jnauary 2015
Read the Science report below from this week’s First News then have a go at the crossword. All the answers to the
crossword are words in the article. Underline these words as you go along.
‘Plants v ants!’
There are many species of pitcher plants, but they normally have
special deep leaves with a tempting ring of nectar around the rim.
However, the leaves have moist sides that stop insects climbing out,
allowing the plant to digest the insects and gain valuable nutrients.
At certain times of the day, the traps can dry out, meaning that
visiting scout ants don’t fall in. Scientists studying the plants in
Borneo found that these scouts will then bring an army of ants to
the nectar. Changes in the weather or humidity (water in the air) can
then make the traps wet again, capturing lots and lots of ants in
one go.
Although these lucky mass captures seem quite rare, it’s a good
tactic for the plants because they get more nutrients than if they just
had a steady supply of individual ants.
U Bauer
CARNIVOROUS pitcher plants that capture and ‘eat’ ants have a cunning trick that lets
them catch whole swarms of insects.
Ants on a pitcher plant
ACROSS
5) Plan, trick and strategy (noun 6)
6) Large and dense flying groups of insects (plural noun 6)
7) This is another word for the things which help you stay alive
and grow, e.g. vitamins and minerals. (plural noun 9)
9) Infrequent, scarce and few and far between (adjective 4)
10) Crafty, devious and sly (adjective 7)
DOWN
1) Important, key (adjective 8)
2) Enticing, inviting and irresistable (adjective 8)
3) Eat (verb 6)
4) A plant that is able to trap and eat small animals, especially
insects. (adjective 11)
8) A sugary fluid secreted within flowers to encourage
pollination by insects and other animals. (noun 6)
Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk/forschools
10-Minute News Challenge
Science : Crossword
FirstNews
Issue 449
23rd - 29th Jnauary 2015
Read the Science report below from this week’s First News then have a go at the crossword. All the answers to the
crossword are words in the article. These words are underlined in the article.
‘Plants v ants!’
There are many species of pitcher plants, but they normally have
special deep leaves with a tempting ring of nectar around the rim.
However, the leaves have moist sides that stop insects climbing out,
allowing the plant to digest the insects and gain valuable nutrients.
At certain times of the day, the traps can dry out, meaning that
visiting scout ants don’t fall in. Scientists studying the plants in
Borneo found that these scouts will then bring an army of ants to
the nectar. Changes in the weather or humidity (water in the air) can
then make the traps wet again, capturing lots and lots of ants in
one go.
Although these lucky mass captures seem quite rare, it’s a good
tactic for the plants because they get more nutrients than if they just
had a steady supply of individual ants.
U Bauer
CARNIVOROUS pitcher plants that capture and ‘eat’ ants have a cunning trick that lets
them catch whole swarms of insects.
Ants on a pitcher plant
ACROSS
5) Plan, trick and strategy (noun 6)
6) Large and dense flying groups of insects (plural noun 6)
7) This is another word for the things which help you stay alive
and grow, e.g. vitamins and minerals. (plural noun 9)
9) Infrequent, scarce and few and far between (adjective 4)
10) Crafty, devious and sly (adjective 7)
DOWN
1) Important, key (adjective 8)
2) Enticing, inviting and irresistable (adjective 8)
3) Eat (verb 6)
4) A plant that is able to trap and eat small animals, especially
insects. (adjective 11)
8) A sugary fluid secreted within flowers to encourage
pollination by insects and other animals. (noun 6)
Learning through news
www.FirstNews.co.uk/forschools