Chapter 1
The Tiny Teacher
1.Q: Why is the ant considered a wise insect despite its small size?
A: The ant is considered wise because it is intelligent, disciplined, hardworking, and cooperative. People have observed ants closely and noted their organised life and efficiency, which makes them extraordinary among insects.
2.Q: How do ants communicate with each other?
A: Ants communicate by touching their feelers or antennae, passing messages about directions, food, or warnings, and greeting each other when moving in opposite directions.
3.Q: What are the common types of ants mentioned in the text?
A: The common types are black and red ants, which are widely seen and familiar to most people from childhood.
4.Q: Describe the structure of an anthill.
A: An anthill has hundreds of little rooms and passages, including nurseries for young ants, storehouses for food, and separate quarters for soldiers and workers. It is highly organised and functional.
5.Q: What is the role of the queen ant in the colony?
A: The queen ant is the mother of all ants in the colony. She lays eggs throughout her life and ensures the growth and survival of the colony.
6.Q: How long does the queen ant live?
A: The queen ant lives for about fifteen years and is central to the colony’s continuity and stability.
7.Q: What is the “wedding flight” of the queen ant?
A: During the wedding flight, the queen ant leaves the nest, mates with a male ant in the air, returns to the nest, discards her wings, and focuses solely on laying eggs.
8.Q: Describe the life cycle of an ant.
A: The ant life cycle begins with eggs, which hatch into grubs. Grubs develop into cocoons, and after about three weeks, fully formed adult ants emerge. The young ants are then trained for their duties in the colony.
9.Q: Why do worker ants carry grubs around?
A: Workers carry grubs to give them exercise, sunshine, and fresh air, ensuring their healthy growth and proper development.
10.Q: What duties do soldier ants perform?
A: Soldier ants guard the nest and the young ones, protecting the colony from predators and threats.
11.Q: How do new ants learn their roles in the colony?
A: Older ants train the young ones for specific duties such as workers, soldiers, builders, and cleaners, guiding them in performing tasks efficiently.
12.Q: How do ants store food in the anthill?
A: Some rooms in the anthill serve as storehouses, where worker ants collect and preserve food for future use.
13.Q: How do ants interact with other creatures in their nests?
A: Other creatures like beetles, lesser ants, and greenflies live in anthills. Ants tolerate them because some provide food, others give pleasant smells, and some serve as pets.
14.Q: How do ants use greenflies?
A: Ants treat greenflies like cows, milking them for honeydew by touching them gently with their antennae.
15.Q: Why is an ant’s life described as peaceful?
A: Ants live harmoniously; each has a role, they never harm the young, and they work cooperatively without fighting.
16.Q: What lessons can humans learn from ants?
A: Humans can learn hard work, discipline, sense of duty, cleanliness, care for the young, and loyalty to their homeland from ants.
17.Q: Why do people keep ants as pets?
A: People keep ants as pets to observe their behaviour, learn about their intelligence, organisation, and hard work.
18.Q: How do ants show loyalty to their colony?
A: Ants dedicate their life to the welfare of the colony, performing their duties diligently and protecting the nest and young ones.
19.Q: How do ants greet each other while moving?
A: Ants greet each other by touching their feelers when they meet ants coming from the opposite direction, showing recognition and communication.
20.Q: What is the significance of anthills for ants?
A: Anthills provide shelter, nurseries for young, food storage, and barracks for soldiers, making them highly organised and functional homes.
21.Q: What is the role of worker ants in the colony?
A: Worker ants search for food, feed and clean young ones, maintain the nest, and perform essential tasks to ensure the colony functions smoothly.
22.Q: Why do ants never harm grubs?
A: Grubs are the future of the colony, and every ant respects their importance, keeping them safe and cared for.
23.Q: How do grubs develop into adult ants?
A: Grubs lie dormant in cocoons for about three weeks and then emerge as fully formed adult ants.
24.Q: Why are young ants trained?
A: Training equips young ants to perform their designated duties efficiently, maintaining the smooth functioning of the colony.
25.Q: How is an ant’s life different from humans?
A: Ants are highly organised, work selflessly for the colony, and live in disciplined cooperation, unlike humans who often act for personal gains.
26.Q: Why are anthills compared to miniature cities?
A: Anthills have structured rooms for different functions, resembling human cities with residential, commercial, and protective areas.
27.Q: How do ants maintain cleanliness?
A: Worker ants clean grubs, maintain storehouses, and ensure that the nest is tidy.
28.Q: What is the queen ant’s main role after mating?
A: She lays eggs continuously to ensure the colony grows and thrives.
29.Q: How do ants demonstrate bravery?
A: Soldier ants defend the nest against threats and protect the colony without hesitation.
30.Q: Why does the story of ants’ life sound “almost untrue”?
A: Because the organisation, intelligence, and dedication of ants are so extraordinary that they seem too remarkable to believe.
31.Q: How long does it take for a grub to become a fully developed ant?
A: It takes about five to six weeks, including the cocoon stage, for a grub to become a complete ant.
32.Q: How do ants ensure the survival of young ants?
A: By feeding, cleaning, carrying them for exercise and sunlight, and protecting them from harm.
33.Q: What is the role of alien creatures in anthills?
A: Some provide food, some pleasant smells, and some act as pets, contributing to the ecosystem of the anthill.
34.Q: How is the greenfly unique among anthill residents?
A: The greenfly produces honeydew, which ants collect as food, making it a valuable and cared-for member of the nest.
35.Q: Why is the ant called a “tiny teacher”?
A: Because humans can learn lessons of hard work, discipline, loyalty, and cooperation from ants.
36.Q: How do ants divide work among themselves?
A: They have defined roles: queens lay eggs, workers gather food and maintain the nest, and soldiers defend, each performing their duty without interfering with others.
37.Q: What lessons in loyalty can humans learn from ants?
A: Ants prioritize the colony over themselves, showing unwavering loyalty and dedication to their home.
38.Q: How do ants demonstrate intelligence daily?
A: They build structured nests, communicate efficiently, store food, and plan their tasks, showing problem-solving and social intelligence.
39.Q: How do ants handle conflicts in the colony?
A: Ants rarely fight; each performs its role peacefully, demonstrating cooperation and harmony.
40.Q: What can humans learn from an ant’s sense of duty?
A: Humans can learn to perform responsibilities faithfully, work as a team, and care for others and their environment.
Answer by Mrinmoee
