GSEB Solutions Class 6 English Honeysuckle Chapter 9 Desert Animals

Gujarat Board GSEB Class 6 English Textbook Solutions Honeysuckle Chapter 9 Desert Animals Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf.

Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 6 English Honeysuckle Chapter 9 Desert Animals

GSEB Class 6 English Desert Animals Text Book Questions and Answers

Working With The Text

(A) Talk to your partner and say whether the following statements are true or false:

1. No animal can survive without water.
2. Deserts are endless sand dunes.
3. Most snakes are harmless.
4. Snakes cannot hear, but they can feel vibrations through the ground.
5. Camels store water in their humps.
Answer:
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False

Answer the following questions :

Question 1.
How do desert animals survive without water?
Answer:
Desert animals find different ways to cope with the harsh conditions and the scarcity of water. For example : Gerbils spend the hottest part of the day in cool underground burrows. Strange insects called darkling beetles are experts in catching drops of moisture on their legs whereas camels find all the moisture they need from desert plants.

Question 2.
How do mongooses kill snakes ?
Answer:
The reactions of the mongoose are so fast that it can dodge a snake every time it strikes. After a while when the snake gets tired of this exercise, the mongoose quickly dives in for the kill.

Question 3.
How does the hump of the camels help them to survive when there is no water ?
Answer:
The hump of the camels help them to survive in the desert by acting as storage containers. These humps are full of fat which nourishes the camels when food is scarce. Hence, they help the camels at times of scarcity of food. Many people wrongly believe that a camel stores water in its hump.

(B) Read the following words / phrases in the box. With your partner find their meaning in the dictionary:

Harsh conditions, Harmless, Survive, Intruder, Threatened. Predators. Prey, Continually

(1) Harsh conditions – cruel / severe / rough conditions
(2) Harmless – safe, innocuous, non dangerous
(3) Survive – continue to live or exist in spite of danger or hardship
(4) Intruder – A person who meets with a situation wherein lies a cause of harm or damage
(5) Threatened – someone who is in a place where he/she is not wanted; someone who crashes in uninvited
(6) Predators – an animal that naturally preys on others
( 7 ) Prey – an animal that is hunted and killed by another for food
(8) Continually – repeated frequently in the same way

Fill in the blanks in the following passage with the above words phrases :

All animals in forests and deserts struggle to 1……………….. in 2…………….. Though most of the animals are 3………. some are dangerous when 4……….. If an 5……….. is noticed, they attack or bite to save themselves. They struggle 6……… for food and water. Some animals are called 7…………. because ‘ they 8……… on other animals.
Answer:
1. survive
2. harsh conditions
3. harmless
4. threatened
5. intruder
6. continually
7. predators
8. prey

Working With Language

(A) Look at these sentences :

Most snakes Eire quite harmless, but a few are poisonous.
Most snakes lay eggs, but the rattlesnake gives birth to its young.

Now, write five sentences like these using ‘most’ and the clues below.

Question 1.
(90 %) of the people are honest (10 %) are dishonest.
Answer:
Most people are honest, but a few Eire dishonest.

Question 2.
(Lots of) fruit have plenty of sugar, (some) citrus fruit are low in sugar.
Answer:
Most fruits have plenty of sugar but citrus fruits are low in sugar.

Question 3.
(Every soft drink except this one) has lots of ‘empty calories’.
Answer:
Most soft drinks have lots of ‘empty calories’ but this one has few calories.

Question 4.
(The majority of) films are romances, (a few) are on other topics.
Answer:
Most films are romances, only a few are on other topics.

Question 5.
(A majority of) people agree that he is a good leader, (just a few) disagree.
Answer:
Most people agree that he is a good leader, only a few disagree.

(B) Look at these sentences :

Animals cannot survive for long without water.
So desert animals have to find different ways, of coping.

The first sentence says what cannot happen or be done; the second tells us what must, therefore, be done, what is necessary to do. Complete these sentences using cannot and have to/has to.

1. You ……… reach the island by land or air; you ……………. go by boat.
2. We …………. see bacteria with our eyes; we ……………….. look at them through a microscope.
3. He ………. have a new bicycle now; he ………. wait till next year.
4. Old people often ………. hear very well; they ………. use a hearing aid.
5. Road users ………. do what they wish; they ………. follow the traffic rules.
6. She ………. accept this decision; she ………. question it.
7. You ………. believe everything you hear; you ………. use your own judgement.
Answer:
1. cannot, have to
2. cannot, have to
3. cannot, has to
4. cannot, have to
5. cannot, have to
6. cannot, has to
7. cannot, have to

Speaking

Look at these sentences:

Deserts are the driest places on earth.
Gerbils spend the hottest part of the day in cool underground burrows.

Now, form pairs. Ask questions using a suitable form of the word In the brackets.

Try to answer the questions too.
1. Which animals the ……….. (tall)?
2. Which animal runs the ……….. (fast)?
3. Which place on the earth is the ……….. (hot) or the ……….. (cold)?
4. Which animal is the ……….. (large)?
5. Which is the ……….. (tall) mountain In the world?
6. Which is the ……….. (rainy) place on earth?
7. Which is the ……….. (old) living animal?
Answer:
(i) Ask questions using suitable forms of the word given in the brackets.
1. tallest
2. fastest
3. hottest, coldest
4. largest
5. tallest
6. rainiest
7. oldest

Answers to the Questions
1. Giraffe is the wildest animal.
2. Cheetah runs the fastest.
3. Al Azizyah, Libya is the hottest place and Verkhoyansk is the coldest place on the earth.
4. Blue whale is the largest animal.
5. Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.
6. Mawsynram in Meghalaya is the rainiest place on earth.
7. Giant tortoise is the oldest living animal on earth.
Can you add some questions of your own?
1. Which is the largest jungle on earth?
2. Which is the largest desert on earth?
3. Which is the heaviest animal on earth?
4. Which is the smallest animal on earth?
5. Which is the snowiest place on earth?

Writing

Imagine you are journeying through a desert. Write a couple of paragraphs describing what you see and what you hear.

My journey in the desert is a memorable experience. I suffer from scorching heat and severe sandstorms during the day time. The terrain is difficult and I find it hard to move on the sand. This is coupled by the fact that there is no food or water in sight for long distances together. Hence, I am literally dragging myself up and down the sand dunes.

In the absence of any building, I can easily hear the whistling sound of the strong winds. I also hear the eagles and the vultures screaming in the air. If I see a few cacti on my way and if I am lucky enough I would also be able to see an oasis which is a green spot in the desert. I also see a few nomads who are moving with their camels. I am now waiting for the night to fall when the temperatures would drop considerably and the desert would look beautiful in the full moon light.

GSEB Class 6 English Desert Animals Additional Important Questions and Answers

Answer the following questions in brief:

Question 1.
How many different types of snakes are there in the world?
Answer:
There are more than 2300 different varieties of snakes in the world.

Question 2.
What is the peculiarity of the snakes found in the deserts of America?
Answer:
The frightening rattle of the snakes that are found in the deserts of America can be heard as far as thirty metres away. These snakes are capable of striking with lightning speed.

Question 3.
Why is the rattlesnake not able to hear if a person shouts and can hear the movement of a person?
Answer:
The rattlesnake hears things through vibrations in the ground. Hence, they can feel the movement of a person but cannot hear if a person shouts.

Question 4.
Why are mongooses considered to be amusing animals?
Answer:
Mongooses are considered to be amusing animals as they poke their noses into holes, overturn rocks with their paws and scratch the ground with their sharp claws.

Question 5.
What do mongooses eat?
Answer:
Mongooses eat beetles, millipedes and other small creatures.

Question 6.
From whom do mongooses feel threatened? How do they warn each other?
Answer:
Mongooses feel threatened from eagles, hawks and large snakes. They warn each other with a special alarm call if they spot anything
suspicious.

Question 7.
How do camels live in the wild?
Answer:
In the wild, camels usually live in small groups of up to thirty animals.

Question 8.
How do camels keep themselves warm in winter and cool in summer?
Answer:
Camels have long, shaggy winter coats to keep warm in winter and shorter, tidier coats in the summer to keep cool.

Question 9.
How much water can a thirsty camel drink in just ten minutes ?
Answer:
A thirsty camel can drink as much as thirty gallons of water-that is about five hundred full glasses-in just ten minutes.

Question 10.
For how long can a camel survive without water? How does it get its moisture?
Answer:
A camel can survive without drinking water for up to ten months. It gets its moisture from the desert plants.

Question 11.
How do darkling beetles quench their thirst in deserts?
Answer:
Darkling beetles quench their thirst in deserts catching drops of moisture on their legs, then lifting them into the air until the drops trickle down into their mouths.

Question 12.
Give the names of a variety of prey on which the rattlesnake feeds.
Answer:
Rattlesnakes feed on a variety of prey, including mice, voles, rats, chipmunks and many other small animals.

Question 13.
Where are mongooses mostly found?
Answer:
Mongooses are found in many parts of Africa.

Question 14.
Name some creatures that the mongooses feed on.
Answer:
Mongooses feed on beetles, millipedes and other small creatures.

Question 15.
What do mongooses usually do while fighting with snakes?
Answer:
Mongooses continually make a nuisance of themselves. Then after a while, the snake gets tired and they quickly dive in for the kill.

Question 16.
What danger do mongooses are always on the lookout for?
Answer:
Mongooses are always on the lookout for dangerous predators nearby.

Question 17.
Why do a few male mongooses stay behind when others are on a lookout for food?
Answer:
When others are on a lookout for food, a few male mongooses stay behind, to stand guard until the others return for the night.

Question 18.
Why do camels have a tough mouth?
Answer:
Camels have a tough mouth because they have to feed on thorny vegetation in deserts and their tough mouths do not allow sharp, thorns to pierce through.

Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each:

Question 1.
Illustrate how desert animals cope with harsh conditions.
Answer:
Desert animals have to go without water for many days. They have to walk/work for long periods in the scorching sun. They have to face all the adversities of nature in desert.

Question 2.
Describe different kinds of deserts.
Answer:
All the deserts are not endless seas of rolling sand dunes. Some are rocky or pebbly and dotted with small bushes, while others are sprinkled with colourful flowers during the spring.

Question 3.
Write about snakes in general.
Answer:
There are more than 2300 different kinds of snakes around the world. They range from just fifteen centimetres long to more than eleven metres. Most snakes are quite harmless-but there are a few that are so poisonous that they can kill a human being with just one bite. Most snakes lay s eggs, but there are many which give birth to their young.

Question 4.
Give details about the living regions of ‘rattlers’.
Answer:
Rattlesnakes or Rattlers are very common and widespread animals, living right across the American continent from Canada to Argentina.

Question 5.
Why do rattlers have a bad reputation?
Answer:
Rattlers have a bad reputation because they prefer to avoid people possibly if they can. The rattlesnake holds its tail upright and rattles the end whenever it is disturbed, in the hope that the intruder will go away. However, if its warnings are ignored and it feels threatened, it will coil ready to bite.

Question 6.
What do you know about the hearing of rattlesnakes?
Answer:
Rattlesnakes also hear things through vibrations in the ground like most snakes.

Question 7.
How do rattlesnakes prey?
Answer:
Rattlesnakes feed on a variety of prey, including mice, voles, rats, chipmunks and many other small animals. They kill their prey with venom. Like all snakes, they swallow the unfortunate animals whole.

Question 8.
Write about the community living of mongooses.
Answer:
Mongoose like to hunt together. They always keep a lookout for dangerous predators nearby. They travel in groups of about twenty to forage for beetles, millipedes and other small creatures. While on hunting, they keep in touch whenever they go out for sight behind rocks or bushes by twittering and calling. They warn one another with a special alarm-call if they spot anything suspicious.

Question 9.
What strategy does a mongoose put into practice while fighting with a snake?
Answer:
A mongoose, while fighting with a snake, kills the snake without getting hurt himself. Their reactions Eire so fast that they can dodge each time the snake strikes. They continually make a nuisance of themselves until after a while, when the snake gets tired, they quickly dive in for the kill.

Question 10.
Describe the pattern of giving birth and rearing of the young ones of mongooses.
Answer:
All the female mongooses have their kitten at about the same time. They are raised by the whole group in a den made inside an old termite mount or hollow log. When most of the adults are out looking for food, one or two males stay behind to stand guard until the others return for the night.

Question 11.
How do camels cope with the harsh conditions of desert?
Answer:
Camels have long, shaggy winter coats to keep warm and shorter, tidier coats in summer to keep cool. Normally the camel, when thirsty, gets all the moisture it needs from desert plants and can survive for up to ten. months without drinking any water at all.

Question 12.
What is our wrong belief about humps of camels? What are they really?
Answer:
Generally people believe that camels store water in their humps, but it is not true. Humps help the animal to survive in the desert by acting as storage containers. They are full of fat and this fat nourishes the camels when food is scarce.

Answer the following questions in four to five sentences each:

Question 1.
Mention in brief about the hunting habits of mongoose.
Answer:
Mongooses like to hunt together, but they always keep a lookout for dangerous predators nearby. They travel in groups of about twenty to hunt for beetles, millipedes and other small creatures. Whenever, they go out of sight during hunting they keep in touch by twittering and calling. They warn each other with a special alarm call if they spot anything suspicious. They are able to kill snakes without getting hurt themselves. Their fast reactions enable them to dodge each time a snake strikes. Soon, when the snake is tired, the mongoose quickly dives in for the kill.

Question 2.
Explain in brief the rattlesnakes found across the American continent.
Answer:
Rattlesnakes look evil and carry an equally bad impression about them. They are found in the dry rocky deserts of America. Their frightening rattle can be heard as far as thirty metres away and they have the capability of striking with lightning speed. A rattlesnake gives signals when it-spots intruders with the hope that the intruder will go away. However, if its warnings are ignored, it will coil and get ready to bite, cam hear things through vibrations in the ground. Rattlesnakes feed on a variety of prey, including mice, voles,chipmunks and many other small animals. They kill their prey with venom and swallow their prey whole.

Question 3.
Camels are very important desert animals. Do you agree? Mention some of the qualities of a camel which make them so important.
Answer:
Camels are known as the ship of the desert. They are used to transport goods and people across the desert. The body of the camels adapts itself to the harsh surroundings making them indispensable in the arid region. Camels have long, shaggy coats to keep warm in winter and shorter, tidier coats in the summer to keep cool. They can survive for up to ten months without drinking water. The humps on the camels act as storage containers. These humps are full of fat. This fat nourishes the camel when food is scarce.

Answer the following questions in brief:

Question 1.
How many different types of snakes are there in the world?
Answer:
There are more than 2300 different varieties of snakes in the world.

Question 5.
What do mongooses eat?
Answer:
Mongooses eat beetles, millipedes and other small creatures.

Question 7.
How do camels live in the wild?
Answer:
In the wild, camels usually live in small groups of up to thirty animals.

Question 8.
How do camels keep themselves warm in winter and cool in summer?
Answer:
Camels have long, shaggy winter coats to keep warm in winter and shorter, tidier coats in the summer to keep cool.

Question 9.
How much water can a thirsty camel drink in just ten minutes?
Answer:
A thirsty camel can drink as much as thirty gallons of water-that is about five hundred full glasses-in just ten minutes.

Question 10.
For how long can a camel survive without water? How does it get its moisture ?
Answer:
A camel can survive without drinking water for up to ten months. It gets its moisture from the desert plants.

Question 12.
Give the names of a variety of prey on which the rattlesnake feeds.
Answer:
Rattlesnakes feed on a variety of prey, including mice, voles, rats, chipmunks and many other small animals.

Question 13.
Where are mongooses mostly found?
Answer:
Mongooses are found in many parts of Africa.

Question 14.
Name some creatures that the mongooses feed on.
Answer:
Mongooses feed on beetles, millipedes and other small creatures.

Question 15.
What do mongooses usually do while fighting with snakes ?
Answer:
Mongooses continually make a nuisance of themselves. Then after a while, the snake gets tired and they quickly dive in for the kill.

Question 16.
What danger do mongooses are always on the lookout for?
Answer:
Mongooses are always on the lookout for dangerous predators nearby.

Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each:

Question 4.
Give details about the living regions of ‘rattlers’.
Answer:
Rattlesnakes or Rattlers are very r common and widespread animals, living right across the American continent from Canada S to Argentina.

Question 5.
Why do rattlers have a bad reputation ?
Answer:
Rattlers have a bad reputation because they prefer to avoid people possibly if they can. The rattlesnake holds its tail upright and rattles the end whenever it is disturbed, in the hope that the intruder will go away. However, if its warnings are ignored and it feels threatened, it will coil ready to bite.

Question 6.
What do you know about the heariftg of rattlesnakes ?
Answer:
Rattlesnakes also hear things through vibrations in the ground like most snakes.

Question 7.
How do rattlesnakes prey?
Answer:
Rattlesnakes feed on a variety of prey, including mice, voles, rats, chipmunks and s many other small animals. They kill their prey S’ with venom. Like all snakes, they swallow the unfortunate animals whole.

Question 8.
Write about the community-living of mongooses.
Answer:
Mongoose like to hunt together. They always keep a lookout for dangerous predators nearby. They travel in groups of about twenty to forage for beetles, millipedes and other small creatures. While on hunting, they keep l in touch whenever they go out for sight behind rocks or bushes by twittering and calling. They warn one another with a special alarm call if they spot anything suspicious.

Question 9.
What strategy does a mongoose put into practice while fighting with a snake?
Answer:
A mongoose, while fighting with a snake, kills the snake without getting hurt s himself. Their reactions Eire so fast that they can dodge each time the snake strikes. They continually make a nuisance of themselves until after a while, when the snake gets tired, they quickly dive in for the kill.

Question 11.
How do camels cope with the harsh conditions of desert ?
Answer:
Camels have long, shaggy winter coats to keep warm and shorter, tidier coats in summer to keep cool. Normally the camel, when thirsty, gets all the moisture it needs from desert plants and can survive for up to ten. months without drinking any water at all.

Answer the following questions in four to five sentences each:

However, if its warnings are ignored, it will coil and get ready to bite, can hear things through vibrations in the ground. Rattlesnakes feed on a variety of prey, including mice, voles, chipmunks and many other small animals. They kill their prey with venom and swallow their prey whole.

Select the most appropriate options as answers and complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
Deserts are the ……….. places on the earth.
A. dirtiest
B. driest
C. dearest
D. dreadest
Answer:
B. driest

Question 2.
Gerbils spend the hottest part of the day in cool …………….
A. water pools.
B. shades of trees.
C. underground burrows.
D. flowerbeds.
Answer:
C. underground burrows.

Question 3.
Darkling beetles lift moisture drops on their legs and let them …………….
A. evaporate in the air.
B. fall down on their body.
C. trickle down into their mouths.
D. All of the three given above
Answer:
C. trickle down into their mouths.

Question 4.
Most of the snakes are ………….
A. harmless.
B. poisonous.
C. very very long.
D. harmful to environment.
Answer:
A. harmless.

Question 5.
The rattlesnake rattles when ………….
A. it is disturbed.
B. if wants to frighten away its intruder.
C. it finds its prey.
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’
Answer:
D. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’

Question 6.
When the rattle snake feels threatened …………..
A. it runs away.
B. it coils ready to bite.
C. it sends sound-vibrations.
D. it becomes ready to defend itself.
Answer:
B. it coils ready to bite.

Question 7.
While rattling the rattle snake ………….
A. lifts its mouth high.
B. holds its tail upright.
C. coils up.
D. lifts its entire body high.
Answer:
B. holds its tail upright.

Question 8.
Rattlesnakes are inhabitants of ………….
A. American continent.
B. Asian continent.
C. European continent.
D. African continent.
Answer:
A. American continent.

Question 9.
Rattlesnakes kill their prey with their ………….
A. tail-strike
B. hissing.
C. venom.
D. body-curl.
Answer:
C. venom.

Question 10.
Snakes like the …….. can survive for a year or more without eating.
A. rattlesnakes
B. larger pythons
C. green anaconda
D. desert death adder
Answer:
B. larger pythons

Question 11.
What do mongooses do to forage?
A. Poke their noses into holes.
B. Overturn rocks with their paws.
C. Scratch the ground with their sharp claws.
D. All of the three given above
Answer:
D. All of the three given above

Question 12.
Mongooses are on the lookout for danger of………
A. hawks.
B. eagles.
C. large snakes.
D. All of these three
Answer:
D. All of these three

Question 13.
Mongooses keep in touch with one another by…
A. twittering.
B. shouting.
C. making body movements.
D. None of the above
Answer:
A. twittering.

Question 14.
Mongooses continually make a nuisance of themselves until…
A. they find an opportunity to strike.
B. the snake gets tired.
C. they find the right place to hit.
D. the snake strikes.
Answer:
B. the snake gets tired.

Question 15.
Where do all the female mongooses raise their kittens ?
A. Inside an old termite mount.
B. Inside a hollow log.
C. In a burrow made by some other animal.
D. Both A’ and ‘B’
Answer:
D. Both A’ and ‘B’

Question 16.
Camels have …………. to keep themselves warm in winter.
A. tidier coats
B. long, shaggy coats
C. humps
D. All of these three
Answer:
B. long, shaggy coats

Question 17.
Camels get all the moisture they need from ………… to survive for up to ten months without water.
A. sand dunes
B. mirages
C. desert plants
D. All of the three above
Answer:
C. desert plants

Question 18.
A Bactrian camel has…
A. two humps.
B. one hump.
C. three humps.
D. no hump.
Answer:
A. two humps.

Question 19.
Humps are …………. for desert camels.
A. weather protectors
B. storage containers
C. water supplier
D. All of the three given above
Answer:
B. storage containers

Question 20.
When food is scarce in desert,…
A. the fat in the hump – nourishes the camel.
B. the camel cannot survive long in a desert.
C. the camel makes it up with the storage of water in its hump.
D. feeds itself on small animals in the desert.
Answer:
A. the fat in the hump – nourishes the camel.

Question 21.
There are ………….. kinds of snakes around the world.
A. 1200
B. 2400
C. 2300
D. 3200
Answer:
C. 2300

Question 22.
Rattlesnakes kill their prey…
A. with their venom.
B. by biting it.
C. by striking it to death with its tail.
D. by shaking it to death after gripping it tightly.
Answer:
A. with their venom.

Question 23.
A …………. can survive for a year or more without eating.
A. mongoose
B. rattlesnake
C. python
D. cobra
Answer:
C. python

Question 24.
One of the following are amusing animals to watch :
A. Rattlesnakes
B. Bactrian camels
C. Mongooses
D. Pythons
Answer:
C. Mongooses

Question 25.
A mongoose kills a snake ………
A. when the snake gets completely tired in their fight.
B. in a single bite.
C. with its venom.
D. if the snake is wounded.
Answer:
A. when the snake gets completely tired in their fight.

Question 26.
The kitten of mongooses are raised ………..
A. in a den made inside an old termite mount.
B. in a den made inside a hollow log.
C. in a burrow made by other animals.
D. Both A’ and ’B’
Answer:
A. in a den made inside an old termite mount.

Question 27.
A thirsty camel cam drink as much as……….
A. thirty gallons of water.
B. about five hundred full glasses of water.
C. about five hundred pails of water.
D. Either A’ or ‘B’
Answer:
A. thirty gallons of water.

Question 28.
The desert camel with a single hump is known as …………
A. Dromedary
B. Bactrian.
C. Python.
D. Both A and ‘B’
Answer:
A. Dromedary

Question 29.
The hump of a desert camel is full of…
A. water
B. fat
C. protein
D. carbohydrates
Answer:
B. fat

Complete the incomplete sentences :

Question 1.
Most snakes lay eggs, but there are many……………
Answer:
Most snakes lay eggs, but there are many which give birth to their young.

Question 2.
When a rattlesnake is disturbed, it……………
Answer:
When a rattlesnake is disturbed, it holds its tail upright and ranks

Question 3.
The rattlesnake cannot hear the noise which…………
Answer:
The rattlesnake cannot hear the noise which is made by its own tail.

Question 4.
When the rattlesnake is threatened ………….
Answer:
When the rattlesnake is threatened, it will coil ready to bite.

Question 5.
Like most snakes, the rattlesnake ‘hears’ things …………
Answer:
Like most snakes, the rattlesnake ‘hears’ things through vibrations in the ground. ’

Question 6.
The range, where rattlesnakes live, spreads right across the American continent, is from…
Answer:
The range, where rattlesnakes live, spreads right across the American continent is from Canada to Argentina.

Question 7.
Mongooses give signals to one another by………
Answer:
Mongooses give signals to one another by a special alarm call.

Question 8.
While fighting against a snake, the reaction of the mongoose is so fast that…
Answer:
While fighting against a snake, the reaction of the mongoose is so fast that they can dodge each time the snake strikes.

Question 9.
Desert camels have long, shaggy winter coats and shorter, tidier coats…
Answer:
Desert camels have long, shaggy winter coats to keep warm and shorter, tidier coats in the summer to keep cool.

Question 10.
The mouths of desert camels are so tough that…………
Answer:
The mouths of desert camels are so tough that even the sharp thorn cannot pierce through.

State whether the following sentences are True or False. Put ‘T’ for True and ‘F’ for False:

1. All deserts are endless seas of rolling sand dunes.
Answer:
False

2. Frightening rattle of a rattlesnake can be heard as far as 50 metres away.
Answer:
False

3. While rattling, the rattlesnake holds its tail upright.
Answer:
False

4. Few snakes have to eat more than once a week.
Answer:
True

5. Mongooses travel in groups of about twenty.
Answer:
True

6. A desert camel gets all the moisture it needs from desert plants.
Answer:
True

7. The humps are the water containers for desert camels.
Answer:
False

Read the following passages and answer the questions given below them:

(1) Deserts are the driest places on earth and sometimes go for months, or even years, without rain. But even the desert animals cannot survive without water, or for long periods in the scorching sun, so they have had to find different ways of coping with the harsh conditions. For example, gerbils spend the hottest part of the day in cool underground burrows. And strange insects called daikling beetles are experts at catching drops of moisture on their legs, then lifting them into the air until the drops trickle down into their mouths. Not all deserts are endless seas of rolling sand dunes. Some are rocky or pebbly and dotted with small bushes while others are sprinkled with colourful flowers during the spring.

Question 1.
Why are deserts known as the driest places on earth?
Answer:
Deserts are known as the driest places on earth as sometimes for months or even years they go without rain.

Question 2.
Why do desert animals have to find different ways of coping with the harsh conditions?
Answer:
Desert animals too cannot live without water or for long periods in the scorching sun. Hence, they have to find different ways of coping with the harsh conditions.

Question 3.
How do gerbils adapt themselves to the harsh conditions?
Answer:
Gerbils spend the hottest part of the day in cool underground burrows thus adapting themselves to the harsh conditions.

Question 4.
How do darkling beetles keep their mouths moist?
Answer:
Darkling beetles are experts at catching drops of moisture on their legs, then lifting them into the air until the drops trickle down into their mouths. Thus darkling beetles are able to keep their mouths moist.

Question 5.
How are some deserts different ?
Answer:
Not all deserts are endless seas of rolling sand dunes. Some are rocky or pebbly and dotted with small bushes while others are sprinkled with colourful flowers during spring.

(2) But the rattlesnake, or ‘rattler’ as it is sometimes called, prefers to avoid people if it possibly can. It holds its tail upright and rattles the end whenever it is disturbed, in the hope that the intruder will go away. However, if its warnings are ignored-and it feels threatened – it will coil ready to bite. But the rattler itself cannot hear the noise its own tail makes.

Like most snakes, it ‘hears’ things through vibrations in the ground. If a person walks nearby the snake can feel the movement. But if the same person were to shout, it would not hear a thing. Rattlesnakes are very common and widespread animals, living right across the American continent from Canada to Argentina.

They feed on a variety of prey, including mice, voles, rats, chipmunks and many other small animals. Rattlesnakes kill their prey with venom. Like all snakes, they swallow the unfortunate animals whole. Few snakes have to eat more than once a week and some, such as the larger pythons, can survive for a year or more without eating.

Question 1.
What do the rattlesnakes do in the hope that the intruder will go away?
Answer:
Rattlesnakes hold their tail upright and rattle their ends whenever disturbed in the hope that the intruder will go away.

Question 2.
How do rattlesnakes hear?
Answer:
Rattlesnakes hear things through the vibrations in the ground.

Question 3.
Where are rattlesnakes found?
Answer:
Rattlesnakes are found across the American continent from Canada to Argentina.

Question 4.
What do rattlesnakes feed on?
Answer:
Rattlesnakes feed on a variety of prey including mice, voles, rats, chipmunks and many other small animals.

Question 5.
How do rattlesnakes kill their prey?
Answer:
Rattlesnakes kill their prey with venom and then swallow the animals whole.

(3) Mongooses are famous for being able to kill snakes without getting hurt themselves. Their reactions are so fast that they can dodge each time the snake strikes. They continually make a nuisance of themselves until, after a while, when the snake gets tired, they quickly dive in for the kill. All the female mongooses have their kitten at about the same time. They are raised by the whole group in a den made inside an old termite mount or hollow log. When most of the adults are out looking for food, one or two males stay behind to stand guard until the others return for the night.

Question 1.
What are mongooses famous for?
Answer:
Mongooses are famous for being able to kill snakes without getting hurt themselves.

Question 2.
How does a mongoose kill a snake?
Answer:
A mongoose will continually dodge each time a snake strikes. After a while, when the snake gets tired,’ the mongoose quickly dives in. for the kill.

Question 3.
Who raises the kittens of ……… the mongoose?
Answer:
The kittens are raised by the whole group of mongooses and especially by female mongooses.

Question 4.
Where are the kittens of the mongoose raised?
Answer:
The kittens are raised in a den made inside a termite mount or a hollow log.

Question 5.
Who guards the kittens when most of the adults are out looking for food ?
Answer:
When most of the adults are out looking for food, the kittens are guarded by one or two male members of the group.

(4) There are two different kinds of camel. One, known as the Dromedary, has only a single hump; the other is called a Bactrian camel and has two humps. The humps help the animal to survive in the desert, by acting as storage containers. But they don’t store
water-as many people wrongly believe-they are full of fat. This fat nourishes the camels when food is scarce. If they have nothing to eat for several days, their humps shrink as s the fat is used up. There are many other ways in which camels are adapted to desert ‘I life. Their mouths are so tough that even the sharp thorn cannot pierce through.

Question 1.
What are Dromedary camels?
Answer:
Dromedary camels are those which have only single hump.

Question 2.
What are Bactrian camels?
Answer:
Bactrian camels are those which have two humps.

Question 3.
What helps the camels survive in the desert?
Answer:
The humps of the camels help them to survive in the desert.

Question 4.
How do camels survive if they have nothing to eat for several days?
Answer:
If the camels have nothing to eat for several days, they survive on the fat which is stored in their humps.

Question 5.
What is the peculiarity of the mouths of the camels?
Answer:
The mouths of the camels are so tough that even the sharp thorn cannot pierce through it.

Grammar

1. Select the appropriate words from the box and fill in the blank in the given text:

fascinate, writings, species, that, characteristics used; may, is full of

The animal …………. kingdom innumerable …………. of animals and birds, which ……………. us. There are some creatures ……….. have
that ………. appear strange and are ………….. by poets and writers in their……………..
Answer:
The animal kingdom is full of innumerable species of animals and pircis. which fascinate us. There are some creatures that have characteristics that may appear strange and are used by poets and writers in their writings.

2. Each of the following lines has an error in it. Pick them out and correct them as shown below:

3. Fill in the blanks in the following text with the appropriate forms of verbs given in the brackets:

There was no time for any more last looks, however. The bell ……….. (ring) for call-over and all books had ………. (be + put) away. In the Fifth Form room, Miss Mitchell …………. (deal) round computerized sheets of questions and the agony ………….. (begin).
Answer:
There was no time for any more last looks, however. The bell rang for call-over and all books had to be put away. In the Fifth Form room, Miss Mitchell was dealing round computerized sheets of questions and the agony began.

4. Join the following pairs of sentences with appropriate conjunctions

(1) Do you want to be punished ? Stay at home.
(2) The tortoise moved quickly. The hare moved equally quickly.
(3) Do not adjust the focus properly. You will get a blurred picture.
(4) The book was very interesting. I could not put it down.
(5) Study hard. You will succeed in your life.
Answer:
(1) If you do not want to be punished, stay at home.
(2) The hare moved as quickly as the tortoise.
(3) If you do not adjust the focus properly, you will get a blurred picture.
(4) Since the book was very interesting, I could not put it down.
(5) Study hard and you will succeed in your life.

5. Rewrite as directed :

(1) We shall go for shopping if it does not rain. (Use ‘Unless’)
(2) As soon as Prasad was distributed, everyone left. (Use ‘No sooner… than’)
(3) She called him a loafer. (Change the Voice)
(4) Sharks are too dangerous to be treated as friends. (Remove ‘too’)
(5 ) I cannot run fast. (Use ‘able to’)
(6) The Metro train will take years to operate, … (Add a Question Tag)
(7) Your dress is very nice. (Turn Into Exclamatory)
Answer:
(1) We shall go for shopping unless it rains.
(2) No sooner was Prasad distributed, everyone left.
(3) He was called a loafer by her.
(4) Sharks are so dangerous that they cannot be treated as friends.
(5) I am not able to run fast.
(6) The Metro train will take years to operate, won’t it?
(7) flow nice your dress is

Turn the following dialogue into Indirect Speech:

Teacher: What’s wrong with all of you today ? Why are you making so much noise ?
Vishal: Sir, Yamini has been punished- for what she has not done. We want justice for this.
Teacher: Tell me what happened. If you are right, I will surely accompany you to the principal and help you get justice.
Answer:
Teacher asked Vishal what was wrong with all of them that day and added why they were making so much noise. Vishal replied respectfully that Yamini had been punished . for what she had not done. Then he added that they wanted justice for that. Then the teacher asked him further to tell him what had happened. He told that if he was right, he will surely accompany him to the principal and help him get justice.

Additional Writing

Question 1.
Write an e-mail to your friend detailing the care you are taking for your pet.
Answer:
To : rajivshah_ 12@gmail.com
Subject : Taking care of pet
Dear Rajiv,
For the last week I have been a little worried and more busy taking care of ourpet Swiggy. She has been ill and keeps shedding her hair. When I found this change. I took her to the veterinarian and now she is recovering. Having a pet is a matter of pride, but It requires a lot of senslüvity and care. A dumb animal cannot share pains, aches or other disorders with you and you should be sensitive enough to find it out and take care. We are supposed to take care of Its food, likes and dislikes and so on. We should also take care that it does not get infected and keeps fit. We love her and she loves us too. Love,
Rutesh

Question 2.
Prepare a report on the ‘Cleanliness Drive’ your school carried out in about 100 words.
Answer:
Cleanliness Drive in Akshay Primary School
February, 16, 2020
Last Monday our school launched a ‘Cleanliness Drive’ and it met with a grand success.
The date was fixed and we had made preparations well-in-advance. We had bought long and short brooms and baskets. We had also prepared some signages and placards. We all – girls and boys – were in t-shirts and jeans early in the morning in our school ground.

We started cleaning the ground off dry leaves and weeds. Then we cleaned our rooms, corridors and sanitary blocks of our school. Then we all went out in the surrounding streets and boosted up our drive. We were carrying placards and shouting slogans to keep our surroundings and subsequently our City clean. When we started sweeping and cleaning out in the streets, the residents also joined the drive. All of us worked quite enthusiastically and were applauded by residents, in the surrounding areas and our teachers as well.

(A) Who am I?

Desert Crocodile, White Footed Fox. The Black Buck, Saw-scaled viper, Porcupine, The Wild Indian Ass. The Great Indian Bustard, Chinkara. Eagle, Vulture
(1) I have quills attached to my body which I inflict on my attacker and thus cause him pain. Who am I ?
(2) I am the biggest flying predator found in deserts. Who am I ?
(3) I am the heaviest of the flying birds found in India. Who am I ?
(4) I am a species of antelope found in the deserts. Who am I?
(5) I am very commonly an earth – water reptile. But I can also survive in deserts by shifting into burrows and caves during the drought season. Who am I?
(6) I am a scavenger but I occasionally kill small animals that are sick or dying. Who am I?
(7) I have a beautiful sandy coat which ranges from reddish grey to pale yellow during the winter months. Who am I?
(8) I am a reptile and a nocturnal species. I am alert and quick to respond. I attack people who tread on me by mistake. My fangs are poisonous. Who am I ?
(9) I am also known as the Indian Gazelle. My horns are more than one feet in length. I get hydration from the dew in the plants I eat. Who am I?
(10) I am a sub species of the red fox. My coat is sandy or rusty red with light grey or white patches. Who am I ?
Answer:
(1) Porcupine
(2) Eagle
(3) The Great Indian Bustard
(4) The Black Buck
(5) Desert I Crocodile
(6) Vulture
(7) The Wild Indian Ass
(8) Saw-scaled viper
(9) Chinkara
(10) White Footed Fox

(B) Match the columns :

Answer:
(1 – f), (2 – e), (3 – g), (4 – b), (5 – a), (6 – c), (7 – d), (8 – i), (9 – j), (10 – h).

Desert Animals Summary in English

Deserts are said to be the driest places on earth and they go without rains for months or even years. Desert animals have to find -a way to cope with the harsh conditions and the scorching sun. Animals like gerbils spend, the hottest part of the day in cool underground burrows and darkling beetles are experts at catching drops of moisture on their legs and keeping their mouths moist.

It is known that deserts are endless seas of rolling sand dunes. However, some are rocky or pebbly with small bushes while others are sprinkled with colourful flowers during spring. There are 2300 species of snakes in the world ranging from 15 centimetres long to more ? than eleven metres. Most snakes are harmless, but the poisonous ones can kill humans with just one bite.

One of the most ill-reputed snake is the rattlesnake from the rocky deserts of America. Its rattle can be heard from at a distance of 30 metres and they strike with lightning speed. Rattlesnakes kill their prey with venom and swallow their’ prey whole.

Mongooses like to hunt together, but they always keep a lookout for dangerous predators nearby. If they go out of each other’s sight, they keep in touch by twittering and calling. They are known for their ability to kill snakes without getting hurt themselves. All female mongooses have their kitten at about the same time. They Eire raised in a den made inside an old termite mount or a hollow log.

Camel is another desert animal. They have long shaggy winter coats to keep them warm and short, tidier coats in summer to keep them cool. They can survive for up to ten months without water. The camels are of two types – Dromedary and Bactrian. Dromedary camels have only one hump while the Bactrian camel has two humps. Their humps are full of fat. The fat nourishes the camel when there is no food. The body of the camel has thus adapted itself to the desert in many different ways.

Glossary

scorching (adj.) very hot gerbils (n.) mouse-like desert rodents with long hind legs dunes (n.) heaps of sand formed by the wind pebbly (adj.) stony voles (n.) small plant-eating rodents chipmunks (n.) small ground squirrels having light and dark stripes predator (n.) an animal naturally preying on others amusing (adj.) interesting; enjoyable forage (y.) search for food dodge (y.) move quickly to avoid Its enemy.

Phrases

with lightning speed with great speed

Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 6 English Honeysuckle Chapter 9 Desert Animals

GSEB Class 6 English Desert Animals Text Book Questions and Answers

GSEB Class 6 English Desert Animals Additional Important Questions and Answers

Desert Animals Summary in English

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