Odonata Reading Answers

Odonata is an IELTS Reading passage about dragonflies and damselflies, covering their physical features, habitats, life cycle, feeding habits, and hunting abilities. It also explains the differences between the two insects, including how they fly, where they live, and how they behave as predators.

The passage follows these insects from their early nymph stage to adulthood and explains how they catch prey and become prey for other animals. The questions require you to identify specific details, distinguish between similar information, and connect ideas from different parts of the passage.

In the sections below, you’ll find Odonata Reading Answers with explanations for each question, along with practical tips to help you approach different IELTS Reading question types with greater accuracy.

Odonata Reading Passage

The IELTS exam has four sections: Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking. The IELTS Reading test contains passages on different subjects, with questions designed to check your understanding of the text and your ability to locate relevant information.

The IELTS Reading passages cover subjects from science and history to society and the environment. Odonata is a science-based passage that looks at dragonflies and damselflies, including their features, behaviour, development, and other aspects of their lives.

As you read, pay attention to the scientific terms, descriptions, and specific facts mentioned in the passage. It can also help to glance through the questions first, so you know which details to look for.

Now, read the Odonata passage carefully before attempting the questions:

Odonata Reading Passage

Paragraph A: Odonata is the insect order that contains dragonflies and damselflies. Their brilliant colours and delicate-looking wings make them aesthetically pleasing to the human eye. In the wild, though, they are terrifying predators. Dragonflies and damselflies are named for their formidable, serrated jaws, which they employ to rip apart their prey. The word Odonata means “toothed jaw.”

Paragraph B: Dragonflies and damselflies are frequently mistaken for one another due to their similarity. Close observation reveals the differences between them. The most noticeable distinction is how they hold their wings at rest. Damselflies fold their wings back, whereas dragonflies hold their wings out to the side. Due to their proximity, dragonfly eyes appear to encompass the entire face. There is a gap between the tiny eyes of damselflies. Dragonflies are bigger, stronger, and more capable fliers than damselflies. Consequently, they inhabit forests and areas away from water. Since they do not often fly far from the water, damselflies are typically observed along the margins of ponds and streams.

Paragraph C: In a pond or stream, dragonflies and damselflies both deposit their eggs on or just beneath the surface of the water. Some species deposit their eggs on the stems of aquatic plants. The hatchlings emerge from the eggs as nymphs. They breathe through their gills and feed on aquatic insects, tadpoles, tiny fish, and even other nymphs. They hunt by lurking at the bottom of a pond or stream and waiting for their victim to swim along. When their prey comes close, they may extend a specialized lip to seize it. Depending on the species, they may exist in this state for months or even years. Several times, as the nymph matures, it sheds its skin. It exits the sea and loses its skin for the final time. The adult emerges, prepared to survive on land and in the air for the next several weeks or months. The adults do not survive more than four months, and many species barely live a few weeks as adults.

Paragraph D: Dragonflies and damselflies are highly proficient hunters due to their remarkable vision and flying ability. Their specialized eyes provide them with a nearly 360-degree range of vision, allowing them to notice even the tiniest movement or flash of light created by other flying insects. They possess two sets of wings that are capable of moving independently of one another. This provides them with excellent aerial maneuverability, which is essential for these animals since they capture their prey while flying. They are able to hover, execute fast turns, and fly in reverse. Some species of dragonfly may fly at speeds exceeding 60 kilometers per hour. Their prey includes mosquitoes, deer flies, tiny dragonflies, butterflies, and moths. One species of dragonfly is known to remove spiders from their webs.

Paragraph E: As bloodthirsty predators, dragonflies and damselflies are, in turn, prey for other creatures. Fish, frogs, toads, and other water species consume the nymphs. Adults are preyed upon by birds, frogs, as well as bigger dragonflies and damselflies. They might potentially become entangled in a spider's web. What you give you will receive the same.

Now that you have read the passage, you can move on to the Odonata Reading Answers and check how each question is answered from the relevant part of the text.

Odonata Reading Answers with Explanations

The Odonata Reading Answers include three question types: Matching Features, Note Completion, and Short Answer Questions. The practice questions below test the same information as the passage but use different wording, helping you practise how to recognise an answer even when the question does not repeat the exact words from the text.

Try to answer the questions first and then check the explanations. Each explanation shows why the answer fits, how the wording connects to the passage, and what detail you need to notice when a question is tricky.

Questions 1–6: Matching Features

Type of Question: Matching Features

For Questions 1–6, decide whether each statement describes dragonflies only, damselflies only, or both dragonflies and damselflies.

A. Dragonflies only
B. Damselflies only
C. Both dragonflies and damselflies

1. Their jaws help them tear apart the creatures they catch.
2. They rest with their wings folded behind them.
3. Their eyes seem to cover almost all of the face.
4. They are commonly found beside ponds and streams.
5. They are stronger and larger than the other insect.
6. They can live in places far from water.

1. C. Both dragonflies and damselflies

Reference: Paragraph A

“Dragonflies and damselflies are named for their formidable, serrated jaws, which they employ to rip apart their prey.”

Explanation: The key here is that the passage gives the same information for both insects together. Their serrated jaws are used to tear apart prey, which matches the statement about jaws helping them tear their food. Since no distinction is made between the two insects for this feature, C is correct.

2. B. Damselflies only

Reference: Paragraph B

“Damselflies fold their wings back, whereas dragonflies hold their wings out to the side.”

Explanation: This is a tricky comparison because the question talks about wings, and the passage gives information about both insects in the same sentence. You might think the answer is C, but look at the specific action: folding the wings back is associated only with damselflies. Dragonflies hold their wings out to the side, so B is correct.

3. A. Dragonflies only

Reference: Paragraph B

“Dragonfly eyes appear to encompass the entire face.”

Explanation: The phrase “cover almost all of the face” is a changed version of the passage’s description that dragonfly eyes appear to encompass the entire face. This is not describing the eyes of both insects. The passage immediately gives a different feature for damselflies—the gap between their eyes—so A is the correct match.

4. B. Damselflies only

Reference: Paragraph B

“Damselflies are typically observed along the margins of ponds and streams.”

Explanation: The important phrase is “beside ponds and streams”, which matches the passage’s “along the margins.” Both insects spend part of their life around water, so this can look like a shared feature. However, the passage specifically says damselflies are usually seen close to these water bodies, making B correct.

5. A. Dragonflies only

Reference: Paragraph B

“Dragonflies are bigger, stronger, and more capable fliers than damselflies.”

Explanation: The question combines two details—larger and stronger—that the passage directly gives to dragonflies. You might choose C because both insects are being compared in the sentence, but the comparison is actually showing how dragonflies differ from damselflies. Therefore, these characteristics belong to dragonflies only, so A is correct.

6. A. Dragonflies only

Reference: Paragraph B

“Consequently, they inhabit forests and areas away from water.”

Explanation: To solve this one, you need to follow the reference in the passage. The sentence comes after the description of dragonflies as bigger, stronger, and better fliers, so “they” refers to dragonflies. Damselflies, in contrast, are usually found near ponds and streams. Therefore, A is correct.

Questions 7–12: Note Completion

Type of Question: Note Completion

Complete the notes below about the life cycle and feeding habits of dragonflies and damselflies.

Choose the correct answer from the box. Each answer can be used once only.

A. aquatic insects
B. nymphs
C. specialized lip
D. four months
E. near water
F. a few weeks
G. flying insects
H. months or years
I. aquatic plants
J. in the air
K. two sets of wings

Life Cycle and Feeding Habits

1. Some eggs are placed on the stems of ______.
2. The young emerge from their eggs as ______.
3. The underwater stage may continue for ______.
4. Nymphs can seize prey using a ______.
5. Many adults survive for only ______.
6. Adult insects catch their prey ______.

7. I. aquatic plants

Reference: Paragraph C

“Some species deposit their eggs on the stems of aquatic plants.”

Explanation: The question uses “placed on the stems of”, which points directly to the sentence about where some species deposit their eggs. The passage also says eggs can be laid on or just beneath the water’s surface, so “near water” may look tempting. However, the specific location asked for here is the stems of aquatic plants, making I correct.

8. B. nymphs

Reference: Paragraph C

“The hatchlings emerge from the eggs as nymphs.”

Explanation: Here, the question asks for the name given to the young dragonflies and damselflies after they hatch. The passage introduces this stage directly as nymphs. There is no need to look for a synonym because the question is asking for a specific term used in the passage. Therefore, B is the correct answer.

9. H. months or years

Reference: Paragraph C

“Depending on the species, they may exist in this state for months or even years.”

Explanation: First identify what “this state” refers to. The previous sentences are describing the nymph stage, so the time period in this sentence belongs to the underwater nymph stage. The passage says this can last months or even years. Do not confuse it with the adult stage, which lasts much less time. Hence, H is correct.

10. C. specialized lip

Reference: Paragraph C

“They may extend a specialized lip to seize it.”

Explanation: This is a good example of a question where you need to distinguish between what the insect eats and how it catches it. The passage mentions aquatic insects, tadpoles, and tiny fish as prey, but those are not the method of catching them. The nymph uses a specialized lip to seize nearby prey, so C is correct.

11. F. a few weeks

Reference: Paragraph C

“The adults do not survive more than four months, and many species barely live a few weeks as adults.”

Explanation: This is slightly tricky because the passage gives two different lifespan details. It says adults do not live for more than four months, but it then gives a shorter period for many species: a few weeks. Since the question says “many adults”, it is referring to the second detail, so F is the better answer.

12. J. in the air

Reference: Paragraph D

“They are able to hover, execute fast turns, and fly in reverse.”

Explanation: The answer comes from connecting the flying abilities in Paragraph D with the statement that these insects capture their prey while flying. The question is asking where this hunting happens, not what helps them fly. Therefore, “in the air” fits the meaning of the passage, while “two sets of wings” would answer a different question.

Question 13: Short Answer

Type of Question: Short Answer

Write NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage for your answer.

1. What does the name Odonata mean?

13. Toothed jaw

Reference: Paragraph A

“The word Odonata means ‘toothed jaw.’”

Explanation: This answer is stated directly in Paragraph A, so this is mainly a question of locating the exact information and following the word limit. The phrase “toothed jaw” contains two words and is taken directly from the passage. There is no need to replace it with a synonym or longer explanation.

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How to Approach Odonata IELTS Reading Questions?

Odonata includes Matching Features, Note Completion, and Short Answer questions. The main challenge is distinguishing between similar details about dragonflies and damselflies, especially their appearance, habitat, life cycle, and hunting behaviour.

A good approach is to first identify which details apply to both insects and which belong to only one. For the life-cycle questions, follow the sequence from eggs to nymphs to adults. 

The following strategies can help you solve the Odonata IELTS Reading answers more accurately:

Match Features with the Correct Insect

For Matching Features, focus on the specific feature mentioned in each statement. Paragraph B gives several direct comparisons between dragonflies and damselflies.

What to do:

• Identify the main feature in the statement.
• Find the matching detail in Paragraph A or B.
• Check whether it applies to one insect or both.
• Watch for comparison words such as whereas, bigger, and stronger.

Example from Odonata:

“Damselflies fold their wings back, whereas dragonflies hold their wings out to the side.”

If the statement mentions folded wings, the answer is damselflies, not both insects.

So, focus on who the feature belongs to, not just the paragraph where it appears.

Keep Similar Dragonfly and Damselfly Details Separate

Paragraph B gives several differences that can be easy to mix up.

Feature	Dragonflies	Damselflies
Wings at rest	Out to the side	Folded back
Eyes	Almost cover the face	Gap between them
Size	Bigger and stronger	Smaller
Habitat	Away from water	Near ponds and streams

For example, “away from water” points to dragonflies, while “along ponds and streams” points to damselflies.

Do not choose an answer simply because both insects are discussed around the same detail.

Follow the Life Cycle in Order

The Note Completion questions become easier if you follow the sequence in Paragraph C:

Eggs → Nymphs → Adults

• Eggs are laid on or beneath the water's surface.
• Some are placed on aquatic plants.
• Young insects emerge as nymphs.
• Nymphs may live for months or years.
• They catch prey using a specialized lip.
• Adults survive for weeks or months.

First identify the life-cycle stage mentioned in the note, then look for the related time period, behaviour, or feature.

Separate Food from the Method of Hunting

The passage gives both what the insects eat and how they catch their prey.

For example, nymphs eat aquatic insects, tadpoles, and tiny fish, but they catch nearby prey using a specialized lip.

You might choose aquatic insects if the question mentions feeding, but that would be the prey, not the method of catching it.

The best thing is to check whether the question asks for the prey, body part, method, or location.

Look for Paraphrased Information

The questions may change the wording while keeping the same meaning.

Question wording	Passage wording
Folded behind them	Fold their wings back
Beside ponds and streams	Along the margins of ponds and streams
Young insects	Nymphs
Catch prey in the air	Capture prey while flying

Match the meaning, not just the exact words.

Check the Word Limit

The Short Answer question requires NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS. The passage directly gives the answer:

“The word Odonata means ‘toothed jaw.’”

So, Toothed jaw fits both the passage and the word limit.

For short-answer questions, check the exact phrase and word count before submitting your answer.

Also Read:
IELTS Syllabus	IELTS Test Format	IELTS Exam Pattern

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Odonata IELTS Reading

The main difficulty in Odonata is keeping similar details about dragonflies and damselflies, their life cycle, and hunting behaviour separate. 

Some information appears close together in the passage, which can make it easy to choose an answer based on a familiar word rather than the actual meaning.

Here are a few common mistakes to avoid, along with simple ways to correct them:

✗ Common Mistake	✓ What to Do Instead
Choosing both when a feature belongs to only one insect.	Check whether the passage describes the feature for dragonflies, damselflies, or both.
Confusing the wing positions of the two insects.	Dragonflies: wings out to the side.  Damselflies: wings folded back.
Mixing up their habitats.	Dragonflies: can live away from water.  Damselflies: usually stay near ponds and streams.
Confusing the nymph stage with the adult stage.	Nymphs can live for months or years, while adults generally survive for weeks or months.
Confusing prey with the method of catching it.	Nymphs eat aquatic insects and other small creatures but use a specialized lip to seize prey.
Choosing an answer because it contains a similar word.	Read the whole sentence and match the meaning, not just the keyword.
Ignoring the word limit in the Short Answer question.	Keep the answer to NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS and use the wording from the passage where possible.

Before submitting your answers, quickly review questions involving similar features, different life-cycle stages, and closely related details. These are the areas where a small difference in meaning can easily change the answer.

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Conclusion

Working through Odonata can help you build the habit of looking beyond individual keywords and understanding how details relate to each other. Pay close attention to comparisons between dragonflies and damselflies, changes across their life cycle, and the different ways the passage describes their behaviour.

As you practise more IELTS Reading passages, focus on understanding why an answer fits, rather than only checking whether it is correct. This can help you handle unfamiliar wording with greater confidence as you prepare for your study abroad plans.

Planning your IELTS preparation and study abroad journey? You can book a free 1:1 counselling session with upGrad’s study abroad experts for guidance based on your goals.