Question

Read the following passage and do the activities:

Madagascar is not famous only for its lemurs, though the animated films might give you that impression! The island nation off the east coast of Africa is home to interesting endemic carnivores, too. One of them is the Fossa. Though it is the largest carnivore on the island, the fossa’s habits in the wild are little known since it is so elusive. Madagascar’s top predator looks like a mix of a monkey, a cat and a weasel! A rich golden brown colour with a whitish belly, a fossa has paws with claws like a cat, a 65-70-cm-long thin tail like a monkey and small rounded ears like a weasel! Its tail measures about the same as its sinuous, low-slung body. Earlier, scientists thought that it was a nocturnal hunter because it was so rarely spotted. However, recent studies have shown that fossas hunt and sleep at any time of the day. It is a superb ambush hunter and eats small and medium-sized prey such as fish, birds, mice and wild pigs. However, its main food is lemurs. Fossas are equally at home on tall trees and on the ground. The long tail helps them to maintain their balance on narrow branches. Retractable claws and flexible ankle joints enable them to climb down tree trunks head first! The den is made in an old termite mound, the hollow of a tree or a rock crevice. There are two to six pups to a litter and they are born toothless and with white fur. They are dependent on the mother till they are eight months old.

A1. Complete the web:     [2]

A2. Describe the physical appearance of fossa.     [2]

A3. Vocabulary:     [2]
Find out the words from the passage and write them in the blanks provided:

1. Animals feeding on other animals. - ______
2. Turning and twisting while moving. - ______
3. Awake and active at night. - ______
4. Surprise attack from a hidden position. - ______

A4. Grammar:     [2]

1. The animals are solitary and silent.     [1]
   (Use not only... but also...)
2. However, recent studies have shown that fossas hunt and sleep at any time of the day.     [1]
   (Find any two determiners.)

A5. Describe any other mix breed animal or bird you are aware of.     [2]

Answer 1

A1. 

A2.

The fossa is a huge carnivore that resembles a cross between a weasel, a cat, and a monkey. It features a white tummy, little round ears like a weasel, a slim tail like a monkey, claws like a cat, and a rich golden brown colour. Its body is low-slung and sinuous, with flexible ankle joints and retractable claws.

A3.

1. Animals feeding on other animals. - carnivores
2. Turning and twisting while moving. - sinuous
3. Awake and active at night. - nocturnal
4. Surprise attack from a hidden position. - ambush

A4.

1. The animals are not only solitary but also silent.
2. determiners – any, the

A5.

The mule is the only mixed-breed animal I am aware of. A mule is the progeny of a horse and a donkey. It is smaller than a horse but larger than a donkey. Mules can labour in very challenging environments and endure great suffering. Because they are so patient and steady-footed, they are known as “beasts of burden” and are employed in the transportation of things.