Question
Comprehension Questions
10 questionsYour work is automatically saved.
1
According to the text, what is one molecule that is responsible for fruit ripening? Audio
caffeine Audio
ethylene Audio
chlorine Audio
nitrogen Audio
2
The text contrasts climacteric fruits and non-climacteric fruits. What is a major difference between these two kinds of fruits? Audio
Non-climacteric fruits do not ripen after harvesting and produce little ethylene while climacteric fruits continue to ripen after they are picked and produce a lot of ethylene. Audio
Non-climacteric fruits ripen quickly and are harvested quickly while climacteric fruits never ripen because they fall off of the plant at too early of a stage. Audio
Non-climacteric fruits must be picked right when they ripen orelse people can’t eat them while climacteric fruits must be harvested in order to ripen and won’t ripen on their own. Audio
Non-climacteric fruits are the only types of fruits people eat while climacteric fruits don’t produce any ethylene because they are not meant to be eaten. Audio
3
Read the following sentences from the text.
“When fruit ripening genes are activated, proteins called enzymes dissolve the polysaccharides in the fruit’s cell walls. This causes the fruit to get softer. These genes also activate the breakdown of starch, a carbohydrate. Starch is a large, complex molecule formed by many small sugar molecules. It breaks down into simple carbohydrates—sucrose, glucose, and fructose—which make the fruit sweeter. Fruit colors also change once ripening genes are activated. Chloroplasts are plant organelles (structures in a cell) that contain chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plants green and helps with photosynthesis. When the ripening process starts, chloroplasts convert to chromoplasts, different plant organelles that also produce and store pigments. Chromoplast pigments range from yellow to red.”
What conclusion can you draw from this evidence? Audio
The only way to know whether fruit has ripened is to taste how sweet it is. Audio
Chemical processes during ripening cause fruit to get softer, sweeter, and change color. Audio
Bananas are the only fruit that change their color to yellow when they ripen. Audio
When fruits ripen, their chlorophyll increases and makes them a darker green. Audio
4
According to the text, how is the role of food producers important to people? Audio
They go to schools and teach classes about the fruit ripening process so others can become food producers too. Audio
They put ripe bananas in a paper bag with unripe avocados in their homes so their avocados can ripen. Audio
They use careful planning to make sure fruits make it to supermarkets in good condition for people to eat. Audio
They encourage people to eat unripe fruits even though they are hard and bitter because they are healthier. Audio
5
What is the main idea of this text? Audio
The fruit ripening process is a series of chemical changes that is triggered by ethylene and leads to a fruit becoming softer and sweeter, and often changing color. Audio
Ethylene is a colorless gas that can be found in the atmosphere or produced by plants and is an important plant hormone because it is responsible for signaling the ripening process in fruits. Audio
Strawberries, oranges, and cherries, are all examples of non-climacteric fruits and avocados, bananas, peaches, and apples are all examples of climacteric fruits. Audio
Fruits are firm when there are polysaccharides, or sugar molecules, in their cell walls and they soften when the polysaccharides in their cell walls dissolve during the fruit ripening process. Audio
6
Read the following sentences from the text.
“When climacteric fruits get bruised or sliced, they also release large amounts of ethylene. Ancient Egyptians used this to their advantage! They would slice open a few figs to speed up the ripening of other figs nearby.”
As used in this excerpt, what does the word “advantage” most closely mean? Audio
protection or safety Audio
celebrations or gatherings Audio
gain or benefit Audio
injury or harm Audio
7
Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.
Food producers know that ethylene helps fruits ripen _________ they limit a fruit’s exposure to it when they want to slow the ripening process. Audio
so Audio
like Audio
after Audio
at last Audio
8
What is Controlled Atmosphere storage? Audio
Answer
9
What do you think would happen if food producers did not use methods to control the fruit ripening process, like Controlled Atmosphere storage? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. Audio
Answer
10
Why is it important for people to study the fruit ripening process? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. Audio
Answer
10 questionsYour work is automatically saved.
1
According to the text, what is one molecule that is responsible for fruit ripening? Audio
caffeine Audio
ethylene Audio
chlorine Audio
nitrogen Audio
2
The text contrasts climacteric fruits and non-climacteric fruits. What is a major difference between these two kinds of fruits? Audio
Non-climacteric fruits do not ripen after harvesting and produce little ethylene while climacteric fruits continue to ripen after they are picked and produce a lot of ethylene. Audio
Non-climacteric fruits ripen quickly and are harvested quickly while climacteric fruits never ripen because they fall off of the plant at too early of a stage. Audio
Non-climacteric fruits must be picked right when they ripen orelse people can’t eat them while climacteric fruits must be harvested in order to ripen and won’t ripen on their own. Audio
Non-climacteric fruits are the only types of fruits people eat while climacteric fruits don’t produce any ethylene because they are not meant to be eaten. Audio
3
Read the following sentences from the text.
“When fruit ripening genes are activated, proteins called enzymes dissolve the polysaccharides in the fruit’s cell walls. This causes the fruit to get softer. These genes also activate the breakdown of starch, a carbohydrate. Starch is a large, complex molecule formed by many small sugar molecules. It breaks down into simple carbohydrates—sucrose, glucose, and fructose—which make the fruit sweeter. Fruit colors also change once ripening genes are activated. Chloroplasts are plant organelles (structures in a cell) that contain chlorophyll, the pigment that makes plants green and helps with photosynthesis. When the ripening process starts, chloroplasts convert to chromoplasts, different plant organelles that also produce and store pigments. Chromoplast pigments range from yellow to red.”
What conclusion can you draw from this evidence? Audio
The only way to know whether fruit has ripened is to taste how sweet it is. Audio
Chemical processes during ripening cause fruit to get softer, sweeter, and change color. Audio
Bananas are the only fruit that change their color to yellow when they ripen. Audio
When fruits ripen, their chlorophyll increases and makes them a darker green. Audio
4
According to the text, how is the role of food producers important to people? Audio
They go to schools and teach classes about the fruit ripening process so others can become food producers too. Audio
They put ripe bananas in a paper bag with unripe avocados in their homes so their avocados can ripen. Audio
They use careful planning to make sure fruits make it to supermarkets in good condition for people to eat. Audio
They encourage people to eat unripe fruits even though they are hard and bitter because they are healthier. Audio
5
What is the main idea of this text? Audio
The fruit ripening process is a series of chemical changes that is triggered by ethylene and leads to a fruit becoming softer and sweeter, and often changing color. Audio
Ethylene is a colorless gas that can be found in the atmosphere or produced by plants and is an important plant hormone because it is responsible for signaling the ripening process in fruits. Audio
Strawberries, oranges, and cherries, are all examples of non-climacteric fruits and avocados, bananas, peaches, and apples are all examples of climacteric fruits. Audio
Fruits are firm when there are polysaccharides, or sugar molecules, in their cell walls and they soften when the polysaccharides in their cell walls dissolve during the fruit ripening process. Audio
6
Read the following sentences from the text.
“When climacteric fruits get bruised or sliced, they also release large amounts of ethylene. Ancient Egyptians used this to their advantage! They would slice open a few figs to speed up the ripening of other figs nearby.”
As used in this excerpt, what does the word “advantage” most closely mean? Audio
protection or safety Audio
celebrations or gatherings Audio
gain or benefit Audio
injury or harm Audio
7
Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.
Food producers know that ethylene helps fruits ripen _________ they limit a fruit’s exposure to it when they want to slow the ripening process. Audio
so Audio
like Audio
after Audio
at last Audio
8
What is Controlled Atmosphere storage? Audio
Answer
9
What do you think would happen if food producers did not use methods to control the fruit ripening process, like Controlled Atmosphere storage? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. Audio
Answer
10
Why is it important for people to study the fruit ripening process? Use evidence from the text to support your answer. Audio
Answer
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here are answers to the comprehension questions based on the information provided.
1. **According to the text, what is one molecule that is responsible for fruit ripening?**
- Ethylene
2. **What is a major difference between climacteric fruits and non-climacteric fruits?**
- Non-climacteric fruits do not ripen after harvesting and produce little ethylene while climacteric fruits continue to ripen after they are picked and produce a lot of ethylene.
3. **What conclusion can you draw from this evidence?**
- Chemical processes during ripening cause fruit to get softer, sweeter, and change color.
4. **According to the text, how is the role of food producers important to people?**
- They use careful planning to make sure fruits make it to supermarkets in good condition for people to eat.
5. **What is the main idea of this text?**
- The fruit ripening process is a series of chemical changes that is triggered by ethylene and leads to a fruit becoming softer and sweeter, and often changing color.
6. **As used in this excerpt, what does the word “advantage” most closely mean?**
- Gain or benefit
7. **Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.**
- Food producers know that ethylene helps fruits ripen **so** they limit a fruit’s exposure to it when they want to slow the ripening process.
8. **What is Controlled Atmosphere storage?**
- Controlled Atmosphere storage is a method used by food producers to slow the ripening process of fruits by controlling the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and humidity in the storage environment.
9. **What do you think would happen if food producers did not use methods to control the fruit ripening process, like Controlled Atmosphere storage? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.**
- If food producers did not use methods to control the fruit ripening process, fruits might ripen too quickly and spoil before they reach consumers. The text mentions that climacteric fruits release large amounts of ethylene when bruised or sliced, leading to faster ripening. Without control, this could result in loss of fruit quality and reduced shelf life.
10. **Why is it important for people to study the fruit ripening process? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.**
- It is important for people to study the fruit ripening process because understanding how ethylene affects ripening allows food producers to better manage the timing of fruit harvests and storage, ensuring that fruits are delivered to supermarkets in good condition for consumers. Knowledge of the ripening process helps reduce waste and improve food quality.
If you have any more questions or need further explanations, feel free to ask!
1. **According to the text, what is one molecule that is responsible for fruit ripening?**
- Ethylene
2. **What is a major difference between climacteric fruits and non-climacteric fruits?**
- Non-climacteric fruits do not ripen after harvesting and produce little ethylene while climacteric fruits continue to ripen after they are picked and produce a lot of ethylene.
3. **What conclusion can you draw from this evidence?**
- Chemical processes during ripening cause fruit to get softer, sweeter, and change color.
4. **According to the text, how is the role of food producers important to people?**
- They use careful planning to make sure fruits make it to supermarkets in good condition for people to eat.
5. **What is the main idea of this text?**
- The fruit ripening process is a series of chemical changes that is triggered by ethylene and leads to a fruit becoming softer and sweeter, and often changing color.
6. **As used in this excerpt, what does the word “advantage” most closely mean?**
- Gain or benefit
7. **Choose the answer that best completes the sentence below.**
- Food producers know that ethylene helps fruits ripen **so** they limit a fruit’s exposure to it when they want to slow the ripening process.
8. **What is Controlled Atmosphere storage?**
- Controlled Atmosphere storage is a method used by food producers to slow the ripening process of fruits by controlling the levels of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and humidity in the storage environment.
9. **What do you think would happen if food producers did not use methods to control the fruit ripening process, like Controlled Atmosphere storage? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.**
- If food producers did not use methods to control the fruit ripening process, fruits might ripen too quickly and spoil before they reach consumers. The text mentions that climacteric fruits release large amounts of ethylene when bruised or sliced, leading to faster ripening. Without control, this could result in loss of fruit quality and reduced shelf life.
10. **Why is it important for people to study the fruit ripening process? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.**
- It is important for people to study the fruit ripening process because understanding how ethylene affects ripening allows food producers to better manage the timing of fruit harvests and storage, ensuring that fruits are delivered to supermarkets in good condition for consumers. Knowledge of the ripening process helps reduce waste and improve food quality.
If you have any more questions or need further explanations, feel free to ask!