Hercules Beetle | Assessment Resource Banks

This task is about adding words to a text so that it makes sense.

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The following piece of writing has some spaces where words are missing.

First, read the whole piece of writing through to get an idea of what it is about. Then fill each space with ONE word so that the whole piece of writing makes sense. You are able to change answers as you go.

When you have filled in all the spaces, re-read the text to check that the whole piece of writing makes sense.

Question 1Change answer

Hercules Beetle

The Giant Hercules Beetle of South America can grow up to 15 centimetres in length. The ferocious looking male has two ¹ toothed horns projecting from its head ² for this reason it is sometimes ³ the Rhinoceros Beetle. Naturalists were puzzled ⁴ the use of these horns, but ⁵ has been shown that they are ⁶ weapons.

Two male beetles need little excuse to begin fighting. After staring at ⁷ other they make a head-on attack ⁸ is followed by the clashing of ⁹ as each beetle struggles desperately to ¹⁰ an invincible grip. Early in the ¹¹ they may back away and then ¹² in again until one succeeds in ¹³ a tight hold on the other's ¹⁴. The victor then begins to ¹⁵his unfortunate foe back and forth ¹⁶ he has an unbreakable death-like grip. ¹⁷, he rears himself upright and resting ¹⁸ his hind legs holds his wildly kicking opponent high in mid-air. He then ¹⁹ his victim hard on the ground, ²⁰ and again until he lies dead.