What is the main idea of the passage?

A pitcher plant’s modified leaf attracts and traps some insects, gaining nutrients that scarce soil does not provide. (The passage explains the trap’s structure, nutritional role, exceptions, and habitat advantage.)

Why is the “meat-eating plant” picture incomplete?

The plant still captures sunlight to make sugars through photosynthesis. (The third paragraph separates the insect nutrients from the plant’s primary energy-making process.)

What does “modified” mean here?

changed in form to perform a specialized job (The leaf takes the form of a trapping cup, showing a specialized change in structure.)

What can make the rim slippery?

water (The second paragraph says the rim may become very slippery when wet.)

How a Pitcher Plant Sets a Trap: Level 2 Reading Comprehension Questions

Some pitcher plants grow where soil provides little usable nitrogen. Their leaves form deep cups that collect liquid. Bright color, scent, or nectar can attract an insect to the rim.

The rim may become very slippery when wet. An insect loses its grip and falls inside. Downward-pointing hairs and smooth walls make climbing out difficult. Fluid in the pitcher traps the animal, and enzymes or tiny organisms help break its body into nutrients the plant can absorb.

The plant still makes sugars through photosynthesis. Insects supply nutrients, not the plant's main energy. This distinction matters because “meat-eating plant” can create the wrong picture of how it lives.

A pitcher is not perfectly closed to all animals. Some small organisms live safely in its fluid, and certain insects can escape or avoid the rim. The trap is a modified leaf that improves the plant's chances in poor ground. It is effective without being certain.

Comprehension questions