Nature · Level 3 · 174 words

The Courtyard After Sunset

Original passage © Studio AM, written for Fluency.

Most visitors leave the courtyard garden when the library closes, but a second shift begins among the plants. At dusk, evening primrose opens pale flowers, and moths follow their scent through the dim air. Many moths feed on nectar with a long mouthpart while brushing against pollen. Some carry that pollen to the next flower they visit, helping the plants reproduce.

The garden offers more than blossoms. Dense stems give small insects shelter from wind, while fallen leaves protect damp ground where worms and other decomposers work. Meanwhile, a shallow dish of stones holds water without creating a deep pool. Caretakers rinse it and refill it, so insects can land on the stones. They also aim lamps away from the flower beds, because bright light can disrupt the movements of night-flying insects.

By morning, the moths are hidden, the primrose flowers are fading, and daytime visitors see only a tidy patch of green. Yet the courtyard has supported a whole round of feeding, pollination, and shelter during the hours when few people were watching.

Comprehension questions

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4 questions
1. What is the main idea of the passage?

Show answer for question 1

C. A modest courtyard garden supports active nighttime life through flowers, shelter, water, and thoughtful care.
The passage follows the courtyard after people leave and shows several resources that support moths, insects, and decomposers through the night.

2. Why do the caretakers aim lamps away from the flower beds?

Show answer for question 2

D. They want to avoid disturbing the normal activity of night-flying insects.
The text says bright light can disrupt night-flying insects, so directing the lamps elsewhere protects the garden's nighttime activity.

3. In the passage, what are “decomposers”?

Show answer for question 3

A. Living things that help break down dead material
The decomposers work in damp ground protected by fallen leaves, which identifies them as organisms involved in breaking down natural remains.

4. What happens in the courtyard at dusk?

Show answer for question 4

B. Evening primrose opens pale flowers that attract moths.
The first paragraph states that at dusk the evening primrose opens and moths follow the flowers' scent.

Source: Written for Fluency. Original passage © Studio AM, written for Fluency.