THE WORD “PESTILENCE” AS USED IN THIS PASSAGE, IS CLOSEST IN MEANIN...

60.The word “pestilence” as used in this passage, is closest in meaning to__________ .

A.infection

B.wound

C.epidemic disease

D.insect poison

For a long time, amphibians were confused with reptiles. Like reptiles, they have three-

chambered hearts and are cold-blooded. Some amphibians, such as salamanders, are even

shaped like lizards. However, unlike reptiles, amphibians never have claws on their toes

or scales on their bodies. Furthermore, the eggs of amphibians lack shells, so they must

be laid in water or moist places.

Amphibians were the first creatures to spend sizable amounts of their lives on land. The

larvae of most amphibians, such as frog tadpole are bom with gills and live in water.

However, their gills disappear as they develop lungs. Most retain the ability to breathe

through the moist surface of their skin. This comes in handy when they hibernate in the

bottom mud of lakes and ponds during the coldest months. They take in the small amount

of oxygen they need through their skin. Some amphibians undergo what is known as a

‘double metamorphosis’ changing not only from gill breathers to lung breathers but also

from vegetarians to insectivores.

Although the amphibian class is rather small in number of species, it shows great

diversity. There are three major types. The caecilians of the tropics are long, legless

burrowing creatures. Caudate amphibians, such as newts and salamanders, mostly have

long tails and stubby legs. Salientians, which include both frogs and toads, are tailless as

adults and have powerful hind legs. Toads differ from frogs primarily in that they have

dry, warty skin.