Section B There is one passage in this section with
five unfinished statements. Read the passage carefully, and then complete each
statement in a maximum of 10 words. Remember to write the answers on the answer
sheet. Questions 51 to 55 are based on the following passage.
The taipan is an aggressive hunter, moving at speed through
grasslands with ease. On finding its prey by scent, the reptile flings itself at
the victim and inflicts several rapid bites. Like most other venomous snakes,
the taipan uses its venom sparingly. As they don’t regard man as prey, they have
been known to strike and bite without releasing any venom at all, leading to no
adverse effects. Although the taipan is the deadliest Australian
snake, few snakes can match the sinister reputation of the eastern tiger snake
(notechis scutatis). However, recent observations indicate that their
ferocity and aggressiveness are not as bad as once thought and that actually
they are fairly timid. There are different types of tiger snakes found in
Australia but they are all highly poisonous and should be avoided. Until
recently tiger snakes held the record for the most snakebite fatalities (now
overtaken by the eastern brown snake). The body of the tiger
snake has cross bands of yellow or cream on a background of grey, green or brown
and this is what gives them their name. They have a heavy, build and can grow up
to 1.8 metres. In the wild they are mainly a swamp dwelling species and are
often found around waterways. Their habitat is now threatened by the clearing of
such areas for development. They have been known, though, to climb into
surrounding vegetation to a height of about 1 metre. They mainly feed on frogs
and mice as adults, but will take the odd bird or lizard.
Another highly dangerous Australian snake is the copperhead (austrelaps
superbus). Although it is non-aggressive, if provoked it raises its forebody
from the ground and flattens its neck, angry and hissing, ready to strike. Like
all other Australian poisonous snakes it is an elapid, which means it has
neurotoxic venom. This venom mainly attacks the nerves of the body, but it also
contains blood destroying properties. The poison from elapids is generally very
dangerous to humans and the copperhead is no exception having very potent
venom. Pythons are also found in Australia, the carpet python
(morlelia spilota) being the most common. There are several different types of
carpet python in Australia. They are widespread and can be found in a variety of
habitat from wet tropics to dry, nearly, arid desert. They can be found in
variable colours but usually have lighter blotches on a darker background.
Carpet pythons are also bigger than most Australian snakes and can grow up to a
length of almost 4 metres. The carpet python is largely
nocturnal and preys mainly on mammals, birds and reptiles. Non-venomous, pythons
bite into their prey and, when the prey struggles, it only sinks further onto
the fangs. Next, the python coils around the animal to squeeze its breath out
or, in some cases, to constrict its muscles and cause the main blood vessels to
burst. One of the easiest snakes to identify in Australia is the
bandy bandy ( vermicelli annulata). This is a distinctly marked elapid snake
with black and white bands around it. It is found in 80% of mainland Australia.
The bandy bandy averages about 60cm in length but can grow up to 80cm. It is
found in all types of habitat from rainforest to swamps to deserts. It is
usually found during the day under cover or on a mild night moving around the
ground. The bandy bandy is a crepuscular or after-dark hunter though it seldom
feeds due to its low metabolic rate. Unlike many of its cousins in Australia, it
only feeds on blind snakes. Being an elapid, the bandy bandy is
definitely a poisonous snake and looks alarmingly dangerous as it resembles the
Malay krait and, when threatened, will flatten its body and raise its body in an
aggressive manner. However, the markings and behaviour are a bluff and its venom
is only mild and virtually harmless to humans. Copperhead snake poison is ______ to humans.