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Read the passage and then write a paragraph that identifies and explains two positive uses of fungus.
Germs are all around us. They're in the soil, in the air, and in the water. Germs are even found on us and in us! They live on your hair, skin, teeth, and in your stomach, but even if you look carefully, you can't see them. Germs are so tiny that they can only be seen with the help of a microscope. This is why germs are sometimes called microorganisms or microbes.
Friends or Enemies?
Germs have a bad name because they can cause disease, but most of them are harmless. Some germs actually help us. Germs in our throats protect us by making substances that keep other, more harmful germs from invading our bodies, and there are germs in our stomachs that help us digest our food.
However, some germs do cause disease, and sometimes-even death. Viruses are very small and very dangerous. They cause many mild illnesses such as the common cold, but they also cause more serious, even deadly, diseases, such as AIDS and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome).
Viruses make you sick by invading the cells of your body. They attach to your cells and replicate (REH-plih-kate; make more virus cells). The new virus cells in turn attack more of your body cells. Eventually, there are enough virus cells floating around in your body to make you feel ill. You may have symptoms such as a fever, sore throat, runny nose, or a cough.
Bacteria are larger than viruses. Unlike viruses, bacteria do not need to attach to cells to replicate. They can multiply on their own. Bacteria were one of the first life forms to appear on the earth billions of years ago. They are very tough germs. Some can live in boiling hot temperatures or freezing cold temperatures, but most like it best where it is pleasantly warm and moist. This is why they love to live on and in your body. In fact, every surface of your body has mostly harmless bacteria living there. Many other bacteria cause disease. For example, bacteria cause strep throat. Eating food that has harmful bacteria growing in it may cause food poisoning.
Fungi, like mushrooms, do not usually cause disease. In fact, many of them are helpful to us. One kind of fungus, yeast, is used to make some soft drinks and candy. Yeast is also used in breads, rolls, and pizza crust. One of the most important uses of fungi is in making antibiotics such as penicillin. Antibiotics are medicines that kill harmful bacteria.
Some types of fungi can cause infections, though. Fungi that grow on the skin cause ringworm and athlete’s foot. Molds are a kind of fungus that can cause allergies and asthma complications.
With all of the germs living on and around us, it is a wonder we do not get sick more often! You will not be able to prevent all illnesses caused by germs, but there are some things that you can do to reduce your chances of getting sick. The most important thing you can do to avoid infections is to wash your hands. This may sound too easy, but if you think about it, it makes sense. Washing your hands often will wash away many of the harmful germs that you pick up from touching other people or objects. Then you will not be able to transfer the germs to your eyes, nose, mouth, or to other people.
Write a paragraph that identifies and explains two beneficial uses of fungi. Be sure to use evidence from the passage.
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Point(s)
Student correctly identifies and explains two beneficial uses of fungi.
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Student correctly identifies and explains one beneficial use of fungi; Student correctly identifies two beneficial uses of fungi, but does not explain.
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Student does not correctly identify or explain benefical uses of fungi.
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