Directions: In each blank, fill in the sentence that makes the most sense in the story.

The Many Faces of Spiders

Few of us have ever had the opportunity to observe a spider up close enough to see
the details of its face. Though they can look very different from species to species,
most spiders have certain features in common. __________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________

A spider’s eyes are near the front of its head. The size, number, and position of the
eyes vary. Most have eight, arranged in two rows of four. ________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________. Just below the eyes and above the mouth are the
chelicera, which end in hard, pointed claws that serve as fangs. __________________
______________________________________________________________________________
The poison paralyzes or kills the prey. Certain spiders use their chelicera for other
purposes as well. ______________________________________________________________
____________________________. Others use their chelicera to dig burrows for nests.

Wolf Spider Tarantula Ogre-Faced Stick Spider

• Spiders have eight legs, but insects have only six.

• But some have six, four, two, or none at all!
• Only those who live in the dark have no eyes.
• The fangs are used to inject poison.
• In most spiders the legs have claws, too.
• They have eyes, appendages called chelicera, and fangs.
• Some use them to crush their victims.
Name: _______________________________________ Date: _____________________
Reading Comprehension • Saddleback Educational Publishing ©2002
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