Leiningen Versus the Ants

The latest on the bug beat: To survive floods, fire ants band together to form a raft. They can sail for weeks. But how does the raft stay afloat?







Brazil: Land of the Zombie Ants
Posted on March 11, 2011 by Sam Flatow

Ants: 'A Global Safari With A Cast Of Trillions'

An audio interview with entomologist Mark Moffett

Journal assignment

Create a chart and write what each side does to combat the other. Then answer the questions below.

The Ants	Leiningen
Cross the trench	Fills the trench with water
Create a bridge with leaves

1. What seems to be the general behavior of the ants? Be specific. Give examples.
2. Why do you think the workers trust Leiningen so much?
3. How is the conflict between Leiningen and the ants final resolved?
4. In the short story Leiningen states, “the human brain needs only to become fully aware of its powers to conquer even the elements.” Do you agree with his statement? Why or why not? 
5. List three new vocabulary words from your reading. What can you tell about them from their structure? What can you tell about them from their context?
    

For more on Leiningen Versus the Ants listen to an old radio show based on the short story.