[originaltext] We often pass on little bits of information to our children,

We often pass on little bits of information to our children, not knowing if they are true, and only because they were passed on to us. This is usually how myths spread. Many myths about snakes exist, and it can be fun to try and figure out how these stories originated. I have learned from my hobby of studying these myths that they often start when one person observes a phenomenon incorrectly and passes on the false information. It always amazes me to see how quickly the misbelief spreads even though science has already identified and proved the contrary.
    One common and colourful myth is that the well-known garter snake swallows its young to save them from danger. The daily customs of these snakes are well-known in the United States because they tend to reside in parks and gardens. They like to live among greenery and in areas well surrounded by plant life. Many children as well as adults enjoy observing these creatures because they see them quite often.
    Like all snakes, the garter swallows its food whole. Unlike most snakes, on the other hand, the garter gives birth to live offspring, in numbers of approximately fifty. I hypothesise that our ancestors, while observing the garter snakes, assumed that the snake had previously swallowed down its little ones to protect them and was now setting them free again. Not many people know that garters are one of the few snakes that can bear live snakes. Unable to challenge the power of this creative myth, the imaginative folklore continues to persist in American daily life.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the passage you have just heard.
16. What does the speaker enjoy?
17. Why is the garter snake well-known in the U.S. ?
18. How would the speaker describe the snake myth?