The Frog That Freezes
Written by Studio AM.
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The wood frog can survive cold winters beneath leaves on the forest floor. As temperatures fall, some of the water in its body freezes. Its heart can stop beating, and it stops breathing. The frog lies still until warmer conditions return.
How does it survive? As freezing begins, its body releases large amounts of glucose, a type of sugar. This helps protect its cells while ice forms around them. The cells themselves must avoid freezing inside.
When the ground warms, the ice melts. The heart starts beating again, and the frog gradually becomes active. This ability to survive partial freezing helps wood frogs live in places where winter is long and cold.
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
What is the passage mainly about?
The answer is D: How the wood frog survives winter by freezing and then thawing out alive.
The passage explains partial freezing, cell protection, and the frog's return to activity.
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Question 2 of 4
Why is this ability useful to wood frogs?
The answer is B: It helps them survive cold winters where they live.
Surviving partial freezing helps the frogs endure the cold winters in their habitat.
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Question 3 of 4
What does “still” mean when describing the frog?
The answer is C: without moving
The stopped heartbeat and breathing provide context for a frog that is not moving.
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Question 4 of 4
According to the passage, what does the sugar in the frog's body do?
The answer is A: It helps protect the frog's cells during freezing.
Glucose helps protect cells while ice forms outside them.
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