How Do Butterflies Grow? | A2 ESL Science Reading Passage

Use this A2-B1 ESL science reading passage to learn how butterflies grow. It includes key vocabulary, reading comprehension questions, and answers for English learners.

Butterflies grow through egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult stages.

Reading Level

A2-B1

Word Count

209 words

Reading Passage

Butterflies do not begin life with colorful wings. They grow through several stages. Each stage looks different from the one before it.

The first stage is the egg. A female butterfly lays tiny eggs on a leaf or stem. The eggs are often placed near food that the young insect can eat after it hatches.

The second stage is the caterpillar. A caterpillar looks very different from an adult butterfly. It has a long soft body and many small legs. Its main job is to eat and grow.

As the caterpillar grows, it sheds its old skin. This happens because the body becomes too large for the skin. After eating a lot, the caterpillar is ready for the next stage.

The third stage is the chrysalis. Inside the chrysalis, the caterpillar's body changes. This big change is called metamorphosis. It may look quiet from the outside, but many changes are happening inside.

Finally, an adult butterfly comes out. At first, its wings are soft and folded. The butterfly waits while the wings become strong. Then it can fly, drink nectar from flowers, and look for a mate.

Adult butterflies can lay new eggs, and the life cycle begins again. A butterfly's growth shows one of nature's most amazing changes.

A butterfly's life cycle repeats through four main stages.

Key Vocabulary

Word	Meaning	Example
stage	one part of a process	The egg is the first stage.
caterpillar	the young form of a butterfly or moth	The caterpillar eats leaves.
chrysalis	the case where a caterpillar changes into a butterfly	The chrysalis hangs from a stem.
metamorphosis	a major change in the body of an animal	Butterflies grow through metamorphosis.
nectar	sweet liquid made by flowers	Adult butterflies drink nectar.

Reading Comprehension Questions

1. What is the first stage of a butterfly's life?
2. What is the main job of a caterpillar?
3. Why does a caterpillar shed its skin?
4. What happens inside the chrysalis?
5. What can adult butterflies do?

Answers

1. The first stage is the egg.
2. Its main job is to eat and grow.
3. It sheds its skin because its body becomes too large for the old skin.
4. The caterpillar's body changes into a butterfly.
5. Adult butterflies can fly, drink nectar, find a mate, and lay eggs.

Short Summary

Butterflies grow through a life cycle: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and adult butterfly. This change is called metamorphosis.

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