Flight Of The Monarch
They are the only butterflies known to
migrate, or travel, at a particular time of
year. Some fly as far as 3,000 miles to reach
their winter homes. They are also among the
most vivid of all insects. Their bright orange,
white, and black bodies can be seen flashing
brilliantly in the sunlight. Their name is also
appropriate because the monarch “rules” over
the vast territory that it passes during its
annual migration.
When the first cold winds of autumn blow,
monarch butterflies in the United States begin
their long migration south. They cannot
postpone this flight, or their bodies might
freeze. Monarchs in the eastern states migrate
to warm havens in Mexico. For monarchs west
of the Rocky Mountains, the winter destination
is southern California.
Monarchs tend to migrate south in large
groups, but weaker ones often straggle far
behind. At night, the butterflies roost together
in tall fir, cedar, and pine trees. Monarchs
usually cover from fifty to one hundred miles a
day, and it can take them up to two months to
complete the trip.
The long flight south can be treacherous.
Cold weather and early snowstorms often
take a toll on the travelers. Monarchs must be
cautious and try to avoid danger. Many birds
feed on monarchs, too. Some butterflies run
into obstacles, such as cars and trucks. Others
just weaken and die from the strain of the
difficult flight.
The bluffs and peaks of the Sierra Madre,
a mountain range in Mexico, make an ideal
haven for the monarchs. The fir forests there
provide the right temperature and humidity.
The butterflies gather in a few small areas in
colonies that consist of millions and millions
of individuals. A single tree might be home for
more than ten thousand of the insects. The
monarchs are not active at this time. Like bears,
they sleep away the winter months.
To help preserve the monarchs, the
Mexican government has taken steps to protect
their winter home. For example, logging,
or the cutting down of trees, is prohibited.
Environmentalists despise this illegal activity,
which shrinks the monarchs’ habitat. Also, as
the forest thins, the butterflies are more likely
to get wet and freeze during winter rainstorms.
When the warm days of March arrive, the
monarchs wake up and flutter down from their
trees. After mating, the females lay their eggs.
The eggs, which look like miniature pearls,
hatch as caterpillars in about four days. After
two weeks, each caterpillar transforms itself
into a chrysalis, an egglike pod. Ten days later,
the adult monarch emerges.
We must be clear when describing the
migration of monarchs. The butterflies that flew
south do not return north themselves. Only their
offspring will begin the return flight in spring.
Also, since most monarchs live only six weeks,
it takes about three generations of monarchs
to reach the northernmost states from Mexico.
The females of each generation will deposit eggs
along the route. Once grown, the new generation
resumes the journey begun by its parents.
Fortunately, the generation of monarchs
that is alive in early autumn lives much
longer—about seven months. So those
butterflies have time to make the long flight
south. In this way, monarchs have populated
large areas and lived on throughout the years.
1. bluff (bluf)
(adj.) direct and outspoken in a good-natured way
He seemed a hearty, _____ fellow.
(n.) a steep, high cliff or bank; an attempt to fool
someone
A scout stood on a __________ overlooking
the valley.
(v.) to deceive or trick; to try to fool others by putting
on a confident front
The thieves tried to __________ their way
past the security guard.
SYNONYMS: (adj.) hearty; (n.) a ridge; a trick, hoax; (v.) to mislead, pretend, fake
ANTONYMS: (adj.) insincere, artful, sly
2. cautious (kô’ sh¤s)
(adj.) avoiding unnecessary risks or mistakes
A _________ traveler prepares for emergencies.
SYNONYMS: careful, watchful, wary, guarded
ANTONYMS: daring, reckless, wild
3. consist (k¤n sist’)
(v.) (used with of) to be made up of
Many salad dressings __________ of oil, vinegar, and spices.
SYNONYMS: to contain, include, involve, comprise
4. despise (di spìz’)
(v.) to look down on intensely or feel contempt for, dislike strongly
I ____________ bullies.
SYNONYMS: to hate, scorn, detest, loathe
ANTONYMS: to love, admire, esteem, adore, praise
5. haven (hà’ v¤n)
(n.) a safe place
The captain sought a _______________ from the storm.
SYNONYMS: a harbor, port, refuge, retreat, shelter,
sanctuary
ANTONYMS: a trap, snare, ambush
6. miniature (mi’ nè ¤ chúr)
(n.) a very small copy, model, or painting
Her collection of ______________ is quite valuable.
(adj.) on a very small scale
A ______________ railroad was on display in the toy department
of the store.
SYNONYMS: (adj.) little, tiny, minute
ANTONYMS: (adj.) huge, giant
7. monarch (mä’ n¤rk)
(n.) a person who rules over a kingdom or empire
Queen Victoria was Great Britain’s ___________________ from 1837
to 1901.
SYNONYMS: a ruler, king, queen, emperor, empress, czar
ANTONYMS: a subject, follower, commoner
8. obstacle (äb’ sti k¤l)
(n.) something that gets in the way
Shyness need not be an _________ to success.
SYNONYMS: a hurdle, barrier, snag, hindrance
ANTONYMS: an aid, help, support, advantage
9. postpone (pòst pòn’)
(v.) to put off until later
Coach decided to _____________ the practice.
SYNONYMS: to delay, suspend, shelve, defer
ANTONYMS: to advance, move up
10. straggle (stra’ g¤l)
(v.) to stray off or trail behind; to spread out in a scattered fashion
Students who ____________ from the group may get lost.
SYNONYMS: to ramble, drift, wander, roam, rove, detour
11. treacherous (tre’ ch¤ r¤s)
(adj.) likely to betray; seemingly safe but actually
dangerous
That hill can be a _______________ climb in winter.
SYNONYMS: disloyal, untrustworthy, unreliable; chancy,
deceptive, tricky, hazardous
ANTONYMS: faithful, trustworthy; safe, harmless
12. vivid
(vi’ v¤d)
(adj.) bright and sharp, giving a clear picture; full of life
She gave a ______________ description of her trip.
SYNONYMS: lively, intense, brilliant, dazzling, spirited, clear
ANTONYMS: lifeless, dull, drab, hazy, foggy
They are the only butterflies known to
migrate, or travel, at a particular time of
year. Some fly as far as 3,000 miles to reach
their winter homes. They are also among the
most vivid of all insects. Their bright orange,
white, and black bodies can be seen flashing
brilliantly in the sunlight. Their name is also
appropriate because the monarch “rules” over
the vast territory that it passes during its
annual migration.
When the first cold winds of autumn blow,
monarch butterflies in the United States begin
their long migration south. They cannot
postpone this flight, or their bodies might
freeze. Monarchs in the eastern states migrate
to warm havens in Mexico. For monarchs west
of the Rocky Mountains, the winter destination
is southern California.
Monarchs tend to migrate south in large
groups, but weaker ones often straggle far
behind. At night, the butterflies roost together
in tall fir, cedar, and pine trees. Monarchs
usually cover from fifty to one hundred miles a
day, and it can take them up to two months to
complete the trip.
The long flight south can be treacherous.
Cold weather and early snowstorms often
take a toll on the travelers. Monarchs must be
cautious and try to avoid danger. Many birds
feed on monarchs, too. Some butterflies run
into obstacles, such as cars and trucks. Others
just weaken and die from the strain of the
difficult flight.
The bluffs and peaks of the Sierra Madre,
a mountain range in Mexico, make an ideal
haven for the monarchs. The fir forests there
provide the right temperature and humidity.
The butterflies gather in a few small areas in
colonies that consist of millions and millions
of individuals. A single tree might be home for
more than ten thousand of the insects. The
monarchs are not active at this time. Like bears,
they sleep away the winter months.
To help preserve the monarchs, the
Mexican government has taken steps to protect
their winter home. For example, logging,
or the cutting down of trees, is prohibited.
Environmentalists despise this illegal activity,
which shrinks the monarchs’ habitat. Also, as
the forest thins, the butterflies are more likely
to get wet and freeze during winter rainstorms.
When the warm days of March arrive, the
monarchs wake up and flutter down from their
trees. After mating, the females lay their eggs.
The eggs, which look like miniature pearls,
hatch as caterpillars in about four days. After
two weeks, each caterpillar transforms itself
into a chrysalis, an egglike pod. Ten days later,
the adult monarch emerges.
We must be clear when describing the
migration of monarchs. The butterflies that flew
south do not return north themselves. Only their
offspring will begin the return flight in spring.
Also, since most monarchs live only six weeks,
it takes about three generations of monarchs
to reach the northernmost states from Mexico.
The females of each generation will deposit eggs
along the route. Once grown, the new generation
resumes the journey begun by its parents.
Fortunately, the generation of monarchs
that is alive in early autumn lives much
longer—about seven months. So those
butterflies have time to make the long flight
south. In this way, monarchs have populated
large areas and lived on throughout the years.
1. bluff (bluf)
(adj.) direct and outspoken in a good-natured way
He seemed a hearty, _____ fellow.
(n.) a steep, high cliff or bank; an attempt to fool
someone
A scout stood on a __________ overlooking
the valley.
(v.) to deceive or trick; to try to fool others by putting
on a confident front
The thieves tried to __________ their way
past the security guard.
SYNONYMS: (adj.) hearty; (n.) a ridge; a trick, hoax; (v.) to mislead, pretend, fake
ANTONYMS: (adj.) insincere, artful, sly
2. cautious (kô’ sh¤s)
(adj.) avoiding unnecessary risks or mistakes
A _________ traveler prepares for emergencies.
SYNONYMS: careful, watchful, wary, guarded
ANTONYMS: daring, reckless, wild
3. consist (k¤n sist’)
(v.) (used with of) to be made up of
Many salad dressings __________ of oil, vinegar, and spices.
SYNONYMS: to contain, include, involve, comprise
4. despise (di spìz’)
(v.) to look down on intensely or feel contempt for, dislike strongly
I ____________ bullies.
SYNONYMS: to hate, scorn, detest, loathe
ANTONYMS: to love, admire, esteem, adore, praise
5. haven (hà’ v¤n)
(n.) a safe place
The captain sought a _______________ from the storm.
SYNONYMS: a harbor, port, refuge, retreat, shelter,
sanctuary
ANTONYMS: a trap, snare, ambush
6. miniature (mi’ nè ¤ chúr)
(n.) a very small copy, model, or painting
Her collection of ______________ is quite valuable.
(adj.) on a very small scale
A ______________ railroad was on display in the toy department
of the store.
SYNONYMS: (adj.) little, tiny, minute
ANTONYMS: (adj.) huge, giant
7. monarch (mä’ n¤rk)
(n.) a person who rules over a kingdom or empire
Queen Victoria was Great Britain’s ___________________ from 1837
to 1901.
SYNONYMS: a ruler, king, queen, emperor, empress, czar
ANTONYMS: a subject, follower, commoner
8. obstacle (äb’ sti k¤l)
(n.) something that gets in the way
Shyness need not be an _________ to success.
SYNONYMS: a hurdle, barrier, snag, hindrance
ANTONYMS: an aid, help, support, advantage
9. postpone (pòst pòn’)
(v.) to put off until later
Coach decided to _____________ the practice.
SYNONYMS: to delay, suspend, shelve, defer
ANTONYMS: to advance, move up
10. straggle (stra’ g¤l)
(v.) to stray off or trail behind; to spread out in a scattered fashion
Students who ____________ from the group may get lost.
SYNONYMS: to ramble, drift, wander, roam, rove, detour
11. treacherous (tre’ ch¤ r¤s)
(adj.) likely to betray; seemingly safe but actually
dangerous
That hill can be a _______________ climb in winter.
SYNONYMS: disloyal, untrustworthy, unreliable; chancy,
deceptive, tricky, hazardous
ANTONYMS: faithful, trustworthy; safe, harmless
12. vivid
(vi’ v¤d)
(adj.) bright and sharp, giving a clear picture; full of life
She gave a ______________ description of her trip.
SYNONYMS: lively, intense, brilliant, dazzling, spirited, clear
ANTONYMS: lifeless, dull, drab, hazy, foggy
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