TheMysteryoftheFlashingFireflies

Duringsummernightsfirefliesflashinthedarkness.Theylooklikebrightspotsoflightdancingonthebreeze.Catchingtheminajarforafewminutescanbefun.Firefliesarenotreallyfliesthough.Theyarewingedbeetles.Scientistsareusingthesespecialbeetlestolearnmoreaboutourworld.

Thereasonafireflyflasheditslightistofindamate.Therearearoundtwothousandspeciesorkindsoffireflies.Firefliesmateonlywiththeirownspecies.Eachkindoffireflyhasitsownflashpattern.Itisimportantthatfirefliesrecognizethispattern.Thatwaytheycanfindbugsoftheirownkind.Themalefireflyfliesaroundintheskywhilethefemalefireflystaysclosetotheground.

Formanyyearshowafireflyflashesitslightwasamystery.Scientistsnowknowthatafirefly’slightisacoldlight.Itgivesoffallofitspoweraslight.Itdoesnotproduceheat.Anormallightbulbgivesoffonlytenpercentofitspoweraslight.Therestofthepoweriswastedasheat.Thatiswhyalightbulbthathasbeenonforawhileisveryhot.Thefirefly’slightdoesnotfeelhotlikealightbulb.

Scientistshavealsolearnedthatfireflieshaveasmallbuilt-inlantern.Thisspeciallanternislocatedinsideafirefly’sbody.Tocreatelightagasflowsthroughtinytubes.Thiscausesthefireflytolightup.Afireflycanalsoturnitslightonandoffquickly.Thispuzzledscientists.Theylearnedthatshortburstsofthisgasmakethefireflyglow.Whenthegasfadesthelightgoesout.Thisprocesshappensveryquickly.

Scientistsknowthatwhattheylearnfromfireflieswillbeimportant.Medicalstudiesusingfirefliesarehelpingscientistsfightillnessesinhumanbeings.Theyhavemadenewmedicinesfromthechemicalsusedbyfirefliestomakelight.Fireflieshavealsohelpedwithnewdiscoveries.Newflashlightsandflareshavebeenmadebasedonfireflies.Thesenewflashlightsandflaresproduceacoldlightlikeafirefly.Thiswayallthepowermakesthelightshine.Thislittlebugmaybeapleasuretowatchbutitisalsoanimportantpartofourlives.

WhydidtheauthormostlikelyincludeParagraph4?

A.Toexplainhowfirefliesmakelight. B.Todescribedifferentkindsoffireflies.

C.Toshowhowmuchpo