The early morning silence is shattered by a strange call reverberating through the forest. Is it an otherworldly creature—or a worm grunter?
Also known as worm charming, worm fiddling, and worm snoring, worm grunting is a practice of bringing earthworms up to the surface of the ground. Some worm grunters pound a wooden rod into the ground, and then rub a strip of metal across the rod, making a sound that has been described as a cross between a decrepit door creaking and a bullfrog with a sore throat. Some grunters stick a running chainsaw into the ground. Others use knitting needles or pitchfork tines. And some worm grunters put on a show—by strapping on a pair of tap shoes and dancing to drive worms to the surface.
But it's not the sound resonating through the air that beckons the earthworms out of the soil's damp darkness. It's the vibrations created by the instruments the worm grunters use. The vibrations mimic those made by moles moving underground. These subterranean mammals eat earthworms. So, to avoid becoming a mole meal, the worms quickly flee to the surface, where they are easily scooped up by humans instead.
On a typical morning, professional charmers may collect about 4,000 earthworms, which are sorted into buckets of 50 and sold for freshwater fishing bait. But worm grunting doesn't just pay the bills. It's also an excuse for recreational merrymaking. Worm grunting festivals in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom celebrate the offbeat but reliable practice of calling for earthworms to rise from their underground habitats. And these events get competitive, pitting grunters against each other to determine who has the best worm-charming skills. There's even a Guinness World Record for the most worms charmed from the soil, set by a 10-year-old girl in the UK in 2009. The young girl collected 567 worms in 30 minutes—by wiggling a fork in the ground while hitting it with a stick.
Which passage from the article best supports the idea that worm charming can be a profitable business?
A.There's even a Guinness World Record for the most worms charmed from the soil, set by a 10-year-old girl in the UK in 2009.
B.On a typical morning, professional charmers may collect about 4,000 earthworms, which are sorted into buckets of 50 and sold for freshwater fishing bait.
C.Some grunters stick a running chainsaw into the ground. Others use knitting needles or pitchfork tines.
D.And these events get competitive, pitting grunters against each other to determine who has the best worm-charming skills.
B.On a typical morning, professional charmers may collect about 4,000 earthworms, which are sorted into buckets of 50 and sold for freshwater fishing bait.
Based on the article, which of these is true about worm grunters?
A.Worm grunting is a highly specialized skill with a single effective method.
B.Worm grunting is focused only on paying the bills and is never a hobby.
C.Worm grunters take advantage of an earthworm's fear of moles.
D.Worm grunters must use special tools made just for grunting.
C.Worm grunters take advantage of an earthworm's fear of moles.
Which is the closest antonym for the word decrepit, as it is used in the article?
A.sturdy
B.colossal
C.horrendous
D.makeshift
A.sturdy
QUESTION 4
QUESTION 4
4 / OF4
What cause-and-effect relationship is described in this article?
A.When wooden rods are pounded into the soil, earthworms flee underground.
B.When dance music floats through the air, earthworms flee to the surface.
C.When the sound of chainsaws cuts through the air, earthworms flee underground.
D.When vibrations run through the soil, earthworms flee to the surface.