ACT
Practice Test 12

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NATURAL SCIENCE: The Armored Armadillo

Meandering along the shoulder of the highway, the armadillo is surprisingly unaffected by its surroundings. This nomad of the desert appears to have no cares in the world, and really, why should he, when

LINE 5 he carries on his back a natural suit of armor? He looks far more awkward than do most animals, yet this alien creature handles himself remarkably well. For such a small animal, the armadillo can withstand a surprising amount of aggression from most predators. Although

10 his shell is far from impenetrable, the armadillo can rest assured that he is safer than many animals who wander the Texas roads. The Dasypus novemcinctus, or nine-banded armadillo, is characterized by the bands that arch across

15 its back. The bands are made of bony plates and are covered with leathery skin—these plates, in fact cover the animal’s back, sides, tail, and the top of its head, creating a somewhat turtle-like shell. The interesting thing about the nine-banded armadillo is

20 that the number of bands on its back may be anywhere between seven and eleven; nine is just the most common number. Contrary to popular belief, only one species of armadillo can roll itself into a ball; the three-banded armadillo does this as its primary defense

25 against predators. Other armadillos often scurry under thorn bushes, rather like tanks strengthening their position. Armadillos are, on average, two and a half feet long and they typically weigh between eight and

30 sixteen pounds, although across different species those numbers can vary dramatically. Nine-banded females give birth once a year, generally to four identical young, which come from a single fertilized egg. The ninebanded armadillo is the only species of animal in which

35 this remarkable trait occurs. The four-month-long gestation period is more than enough time for the offspring to develop, as they are born fully formed with their eyes open. After a few hours they begin to walk and are able to distance themselves from their mothers after only a

40 few months. Few animals are able to outrun a startled armadillo, and if chased into its burrow, the animal is able to arch its armor against the burrow walls, making the armadillo nearly impossible to become dislodged; this is quite frustrating to dogs and other animals who

45 would like to eat the armadillo. In addition to threats of being eaten by an opportunistic predator, the armadillo must also endure a more severe danger: automobiles. A significant number of armadillos die each year after being struck by cars.

50 Armadillos can be found in the northern parts of South America and as far north as the State of Texas. Nine-banded armadillos prefer warm climates and like to build burrows in the wet soil near streambeds, which they often share with other species, such as rabbits and

55 opossums. Armadillos are nocturnal, and they spend their evenings digging for grubs and other invertebrates which make up the majority of their diet. Most Texans see the armadillo as a pest, since the creatures have a tendency to ruin corn by eating the

60 parts of the plants that are low to the ground; they occasionally will eat other farm vegetables as well. Armadillos provide some benefits however, as they eat many annoying and harmful insects and are often used in medical research. Interestingly enough, they are the

65 only mammal besides humans that can contract leprosy. While armadillos are seen as strange and often troublesome animals, they are unique and valuable for research. This armored native of the south will most likely continue to fascinate and charm people for many

70 years to come.

The author likens armadillos scurrying under thorn bushes to “tanks strengthening their positions” in Paragraph 2 because:

  • Solution

    The best answer is A. At this point in the passage, the defense mechanisms of armadillos are being discussed. If tanks were strengthening their positions, they would be improving their safety and increasing their level of protection from enemies. Therefore, if armadillos “often scurry under thorn bushes, rather like tanks strengthening their positions,” they are giving themselves better protection against their predators. This best supports answer choice A.

The author calls the armadillo an “alien creature” in the first paragraph because:

  • Solution

    The best answer is J. The first paragraph states that armadillos look “far more awkward than most animals.” The passage then goes on to describe the armadillo as an “alien creature,” which suggests that the armadillo’s awkward appearance is what makes it an alien creature. The other answer choices are not supported by the passage.

The passage indicates that, unlike some other desert animals, the armadillo:

  • Solution

    The best answer is D. According to the passage, the armadillo is “safer than most animals who wander the Texas roads” because its shell protects its from predators. Answer choices A through C are beyond the scope of the passage and, therefore, are incorrect.

As it is used in the passage (line 42), the phrase “arch its armor” most nearly means:

  • Solution

    The best answer is G. The author’s statement that “if chased into their burrows, they are able to arch their armor against the burrow walls making them nearly impossible to dislodge” suggests that the armadillo curves its back against the burrow walls, wedging itself into the burrow. The other answer choices are not supported by the passage.

Based on information in the passage, the author feels that the nine-banded armadillo is especially unique because:

  • Solution

    The best answer is C. Information in the passage indicates that “The nine-banded armadillo is the only species of animal in which this remarkable trait occurs,” which is speaking in reference to their ability to have four identical offspring emerging from the same egg. This best supports answer choice C.

The passage indicates that most Texans consider the armadillo to be both:

  • Solution

    The best answer is H. According to the passage, most Texans feel the armadillo is a “pest” when it destroys crops and other plants that are low to the ground; however, most Texans also see that armadillos provide “benefits” as well, such as its eating harmful insects and aiding in medical research. This best supports answer choice H.

What does the passage state is one of armadillo’s greatest threats?

  • Solution

    The best answer is B. Although the passage mentions both opossums and farmers, neither are identified as predators of the armadillo. Both dogs and cars are acknowledged as predators of the armadillo; however, the passage explicitly states that “In addition to threats of being eaten by an opportunistic predator, the armadillo must also endure a more severe danger: automobiles.” Therefore, automobiles are more dangerous to armadillos than are any other predator. This best supports answer choice B.

The passage states that, in the Southern United States, armadillos do damage to:

  • Solution

    The best answer is F. The passage states that, “Texans see the armadillo as a pest, since they have a tendency to ruin corn by eating the parts of the plants which are low to the ground.” This suggests that armadillos are damaging crops. The other answer choices are not supported by the passage.

The passage indicates that, at birth, armadillos:

  • Solution

    The best answer is C. According to the passage, armadillos “are born fully-formed with their eyes open” so it makes sense that they would be able to see. The other answer choices contradict statements made elsewhere in the passage, or are unsupported by the passage.

According to the passage, the scientific name Dasypus novemcinctus is unique to:

  • Solution

    The best answer is J. The only scientific name mentioned, Dasypus novemcincts, is directly de- fined as being the name for the nine-banded armadillo. The other choices are similar species of armadillo, but not mentioned in reference to that specific scientific name

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