Ants in Action

An Ants Life
Welcome to the world of ants. Ants are busy insects. They live and work together in
groups called colonies. Millions of ants can live in one colony! Each colony has at
least one queen. The queen lays eggs. The other ants have work to do.
Here are just a few of their jobs.
Worker Ants
Most ants live in underground nests. Worker ants dig the nests using their jaws.
They take the extra dirt outside. That dirt forms an anthill above the nest. Each nest
has many rooms. They are connected by tunnels. Some rooms are places to rest.
Other rooms are used to take care of the young ants. Food is stored in some rooms.
Scout Ants
Some ants are scout ants. They hunt for food. When a scout ant finds food, it goes
back to the nest. The ant leaves a scent trail along the way. Other ants follow the
trail to find the food. They carry the food back to the nest and share it with the
colony. Ants eat different foods. Many ants eat seeds and fruits. Other ants eat
insects. Some ants even eat small animals.
Soldier Ants
Some ants are soldiers. Their job is to protect the nest. They stand near the nests
entrance and guard it. They fight off enemy insects that try to enter the nest. Some
soldier ants have large heads. They use their heads to block the entrances to the
nest.

Questions: Ants in Action

1 Name: ____________________________ Date: ________________
Directions: Answer the following four questions based on the information in the
passage.
1. Which type of ant lays eggs?
__________________________________________________________________________________ _
_
2. What is the job of soldier ants?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________

3. Based on the information in the passage, would a very large nest have a large or
small anthill above it? ________________________________________________________ _ _ _
_________________________________
________________________________________________________
4. What is this passage mostly about?
________________________________________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
___________________
________________________________________________________ Questions.
2. Directions: Please read the sentence below and then write the word or phrase
that best answers the questions. The first answer has been provided for you. When
they find food, scout ants leave a scent trail for other ants to follow.
What? scout ants
5. (do) What? ________________________________________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
___
6. When? ________________________________________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
___
7. Why? ________________________________________________________ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
___
Questions:. 3. The question below is an incomplete sentence. Choose the word that
best completes the sentence.
8. Some ants eat seeds and fruits, _______ others eat small animals.
A. but

B. because

C. so

Directions: Read the vocabulary word and definition below. Then answer questions
9 and 10.
Vocabulary Word: store (store): to put away for later use; a place where you go to
buy things.
9. Read the sentences below and underline all forms of the word store.
a. A cookie jar is used to store extra cookies so that they wont go stale.
b. I have to go to the grocery store to buy milk and eggs.
c. I store all of my extra pencils in my desk drawer.
d. In the back of the pizzeria, the chefs store many bags of flour to make the pizza
dough.

e. Some foods must be stored in a refrigerator because they need to be kept cold.
10. Which picture shows something that can be used to store things?