Fear of Spiders

1a

The writer is admitting to his fear of spiders.

vs

The writer is referring to his fear, repulsion, dislike of spiders.

1b

The writer feels ashamed / embarrassed.

Vs

The writer feels shameful.

2a

He is referring to the answer “because they have eight legs”.

Refer back to paras 1 – 3.

2b

It seems illogical to base fears on an arbitrary number [1]

Many spiders do not even have eight legs to begin with [1]

3

Spiders grow new legs to replace missing ones

Vs

Spiders grow more legs

4

This is because unlike humans, animals do not have the capacity to judge whether something is right or wrong.

Vs

This is because spiders don’t feel the same pain as humans

5

The writer is referring to the behaviour of disposing of a leg that gets in its way without great concern.

Vs

Spiders do not care that they lose a leg.

6

“subjective” / controversial / questionable

7

The newborn spider is born with the instinct to weave a web flawlessly.

8a

He means that these psychologists have come up with major theories / elaborate reasons about the significance of spiders

8b

“supposedly”

9

The way a female spider traps its prey brings to mind the image of the enemy mother who wants to dominate over others [1]

The female spider purportedly devours the male after mating [1]

The female spider creates more intricate webs than the male. [1]

10

The presence of cobwebs constitutes evidence of neglect and desertion, since cobwebs only exist where there is lack of a human presence. [1]

The cobwebs, being draped across the walls, also resemble banners in terms of their visual impact. [1]

11

“soundless” / spectral / unexpected / invisible

12a

It is the etching by Gustave Dore illustrating Arachne

12b

Like a birth certificate which marks the birth of a child, the etching marks the start of the writer’s phobia of spiders. [1]

In addition, like the birth certificate which is a concrete document, the etching provides tangible proof of the origin of this fear. [1]

13

a. Ritual – customary / expected / habitual / usual / routine

b. Inspire – arouse / evoke / induce

c. Transmitted – passed down/on / imparted

d. Aversion – strong dislike (degree is impt)

e. Indelible – unforgettable (note spelling)

Summary1. THEY HAVE EIGHT LEGS2. No reason for eight legs to be more repulsive than any other number3. They often have 7 or fewer legs4. THEY ARE CRUEL5. But not more cruel than other animals6. Unfair to judge the spider for values it does not possess7. Sympathy on victims is wasted8. Since they are unlikely to feel pain the way humans do9. THEY ARE HAIRY AND UGLY10. We are inconsistent in our dislike of hairy or furry animals11. Ugliness is subjective / nothing in nature is ugly12. Although we have been conditioned to perceive harmful creatures as ugly13. THEY AMBUSH THEIR PREY14. But this is a moralistic view15. Miracle of the spider’s instinct to spin webs flawlessly should inspire our

admiration, not horror16. REVEALS OUR REJECTION OF SEX17. The spider symbolises dangerous and tyrannical females (devour the male

after mating / impotence of infancy)18. But this is not based on empirical evidence19. SPIDERS ARE BELIEVED TO BE POISONOUS20. This is unfounded as they are mostly harmless21. But childhood impressions are hard to erase.