Spider Silk: Stronger Than Steel

Story 8 of 10

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Verb Adjective Adverb Expression

Spider silk looks thin and delicate, but it is one of the strongest materials in nature. Weight for weight, spider silk is actually stronger than steel, and at the same time it can stretch without breaking. Because of these amazing qualities, scientists have studied spider silk for many years.

Some experts say that if a strand of spider silk were as thick as a pencil, it could stop a flying aeroplane. Of course, that is only in theory. Still, engineers hope to create new materials — from stronger ropes to safer clothing — by copying the secret of the spider.

Vocabulary from this story

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silk

ipak, tola

delicate

nozik

materials

materiallar

steel

poʻlat

stretch

choʻzilmoq

qualities

xususiyatlar

experts

mutaxassislar

strand

tola

aeroplane

samolyot

theory

nazariya

engineers

muhandislar

Grammar from this story

Key patterns that appeared in the text.

because of + noun

... tufayli, ... sababli (otdan oldin keladi).

Because of these qualities, scientists study spider silk.
The flight was delayed because of the fog.

if + past, could + verb (second conditional)

Faraziy shart: agar ...sa edi, ... boʻlishi mumkin edi (haqiqatga zid taxmin).

If a strand were as thick as a pencil, it could stop a plane.
If I had wings, I could fly.

Check your understanding

Read the story, then choose the best answer. Tap a choice to check it.

1. How strong is spider silk compared to steel?

2. What could a pencil-thick strand of spider silk do, in theory?

3. Why do scientists and engineers study spider silk?

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