Timber MCQ with answer and solution

Concept

Termites are wood-eating insects. They are called white ants but they are not true ants.

Step-by-step solution

1. Recall the insects that attack timber. 2. Termites are pale or white and live in colonies like ants. 3. So they are called white ants, but they belong to a different insect group, not ants. 4. Answer: Termites.

Explanation

Termites are insects that eat wood and damage timber in buildings. They look whitish and live in colonies, so people call them white ants. In biology they are closer to cockroaches than to ants.

Why the other options are wrong

A: Flies are winged insects and are not called white ants. B: Viruses are not insects at all. D: Bacteria are micro-organisms, not insects.

Shortcut

White ants = Termites (they attack timber).

Common mistake

Thinking white ants are a type of real ant.