Ans: (i) The desert animals find ways to survive for many days without water. Gerbils keep themselves cool in underground holes. The beetles catch drops of moisture on their legs. The camels get moisture from desert plants.
(ii)Mongooses have very swift reactions. They get away fast when the snake tries to strike. They trouble the snake until it is tired. Then they attack and kill the snake. They themselves don’t get any injury.
(iii)The hump of the camel is meant for storing fat and not water. That fat meets the camel’s need for water and nourishment.
B. Read the words/phrases in the box. With your partner find their meanings in the dictionary.
harsh conditions harmless survive intruder
threatened predators prey continually
Fill in the blanks in the following passage with the above words/phrases.
All animals in forests and deserts struggle to________________________________ in______ .
Though most of the animals are _______________________ , some are dangerous when
________________ . If an___________________ is noticed, they attack or bite to save
themselves. They struggle _____________________ for food and water. Some animals
are called___________________ because they_____________________ on other animals.
Ans: All animals in forests and deserts struggle to survive in harsh conditions. Though most of the animals are harmless; some are dangerous when threatened. If an intruder is noticed, they attack or bite to save themselves. They struggle continually for food and water. Some animals are called predators because they prey on other animals.
Speaking (Page 118)
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 brackets. Try to answer the questions too.
Do you know