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Important Questions Class 6 English Honeysuckle Chapter 9

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An Overview of Important Questions Class 6 English Honeysuckle Chapter 9

Have you ever wondered how animals survive in harsh, dry deserts? In Desert Animals Important Questions for Class 6 English Honeysuckle, you will discover fascinating facts about camels, mongooses, rattlesnakes, and many more. This chapter helps you understand how these creatures adapt to extreme heat and little water, turning the desert into their home.


If you're confused about how these animals manage to live with so little water or which unique features help them, don't worry! The Important Questions and answers make tricky parts simple, so you can prepare for your exams with confidence. You can also get extra help anytime using the free PDF made specially by Vedantu's best teachers.


For more practice, check out other Class 6 English Important Questions on Vedantu. You'll find everything you need for smart and easy revision!


Study Important Questions for Class 6 English Honeysuckle Chapter 09 - Desert Animals

A. Very Short Answer Questions:     1 Mark

1. Word – Meaning from the given chapter:

i. Predator

Ans: An animal naturally preying on others.


ii. Forage

Ans: Search for food.


iii. Dodge

Ans: Move quickly to avoid its enemy.


iv. Scorching

Ans: Very hot


2. Fill in the Blanks:

i. Deserts animals cannot survive without _____.

Ans: water


ii. _____ are special features found only in the deserts.

Ans: Sand dunes 


iii. _____ live in the dry, rocky deserts of America.

Ans: Rattlesnakes 


iv. The camel with two humps is known as _____.

Ans: Bactrian camel.


3. True - False:

i. Desserts are the driest places on the earth.

Ans: True


ii. Rattlesnakes kill their prey with venom.

Ans: True


iii. Mongoose prefers to hunt alone.

Ans: False


iv. In the wild, camels live in small groups of up to thirty animals.

Ans: True


4. Match the Following:

i. Gerbils

Catching drops of moisture on their legs

ii. Darkling beetles

hunt in group

iii. Snake

Cool underground burrows

iv. Mongoose

‘hears’ through vibrations


Ans:

i. Gerbils

Cool underground burrows

ii. Darkling beetles

Catching drops of moisture on their legs

iii. Snake

‘hears’ through vibrations

iv. Mongoose

Hunt in group


5. How does the mongoose warn their group while hunting?

Ans: The mongooses use a special alarm call to warn each other when they see something suspicious.


B. Short Answer Question:     2 Marks

1. What is the use of fat in the hump of camels?

Ans: The hump of camels is filled with fat. This hump feeds the camel when there is a dearth of food. Their hump shrinks if they do not eat anything for several days.


2. How do camels survive in hot and cold weather?

Ans: When camels live in the wild, they live in small groups that have thirty animals. In winters, camels are warmed up by their shaggy winter coats. And shorter and tidier coats keep them cool in the summer.


3. How does a mongoose search for its food?

Ans: The mongoose pokes its nose into the openings, overturn rocks with their paws and scratch the bottom with their sharp claws.


4. Name the prey of rattlesnake.

Ans: They feed on a variety of prey, such as voles, mice, rats, chipmunks, and many other tiny animals.


5. Are all deserts, seas of rolling sand dunes?

Ans: No, not all deserts are eternal seas of rolling sand dunes. There are some desserts that are pebbly or rocky and spotted with small bushes while some are speckled with rich flowers during the spring.


C. Short Answer Question:    3 Marks

1. How do gerbils and darkling beetles live in the scorching sun of the desert?

Ans: On the hottest days, gerbils bury themselves underground. Darkling beetles, sometimes known as strange insects, collect drops of moisture on their legs and then hoist them into the air, allowing the drops to fall into their mouths.


2. How does a rattlesnake react when disturbed?

Ans: A rattlesnake when it gets disturbed holds its tail vertical and rattles it, hoping that the intruder will move away. And if the intruder ignores the warnings, it threatens him and is prepared to bite.


3. Why is the mongoose successful in killing snakes without getting hurt?

Ans: The reflex action in mongoose is fast because it dodges itself whenever a snake approaches. Mongoose mocks itself till the snake becomes exhausted and surrenders to the mongoose. This is how the mongoose is successful in killing the snake without getting hurt.


4. What are the different types of camels?

Ans: There are two kinds of camels. One species of the camel is known as Dromedary. They possess only one hump. The other species of the camel is the Bactrian camel that has two humps.


5. How does a mongoose confine in touch with its group while hunting?

Ans: A mongoose keeps in tune with its group while hunting by alarming one another whenever they face any danger from predators like eagles and enormous snakes. They twitter and call whenever they are going out of sight behind the rocks or bushes.


D. Long Answer Question:     5 Marks

1. How does a rattlesnake ‘hear’ things and how does it react to threats?

Ans: A rattlesnake like other snakes, hears vibrations through the ground. It detects the presence or the footsteps of a human but does not detect the shouting or the noise created by humans. Whenever faced with danger or threats, a rattlesnake holds its tail vertical and rattles it, hoping that the intruder will move away. And if the intruder ignores the warnings, it threatens him and is prepared to bite.


2. How are mongoose kittens raised?

Ans: All the female mongooses give birth to the kitten at about the same time. The kittens are raised in a den inside an old termite mount or hollow log, by a whole group. While the male mongooses search for food and some stand as guards that look out for the danger of the hawks, eagles, and larger snakes until the rest of the group returns. The mongooses make an alarm call if they detect anything suspicious.


3. How are camels adapted to desert life?

Ans: Camels get their needed moisture from desert plants. And they are capable of surviving for up to ten months without drinking water.  They contain a hump that is full of fat. Whenever there is a scarcity of food, this hump nourishes the camel. Their hump shrinks if they do not eat anything for several days. The mouth of the camel is so tough that even the sharpest thorn cannot pierce through it. When camels live in the wild, they live in small groups that have thirty animals. In winters, camels are warmed up by their shaggy winter coats. And shorter and tidier coats keep them cool in the summer.


4. Describe the hunting habits of mongooses.

Ans: Mongooses travel in groups of about 20 members. They like to hunt together and keep a lookout for the dangerous predators nearby. Their prey includes beetles, millipedes, and other small creatures. A mongoose keeps in tune with its group while hunting by alarming one another whenever they face any danger from predators like eagles and enormous snakes. They twitter and call whenever they go out of sight behind the rocks or bushes.


5. Write a short note on the rattlesnake.

Ans: Rattlesnakes are one of the most dangerous creatures on earth. It lives in the rocky, dry deserts of America across the American continent from Canada to Argentina. It is called a rattlesnake because it possesses a rattle at its tail. The rattles can be heard as far as thirty meters away. A rattlesnake when disturbed holds its tail vertical and rattles it, hoping that the intruder will move away. And if the intruder ignores the warnings, it threatens him and is ready to bite. Rattlesnakes kill their prey such as chipmunks, rats, voles with venom by swallowing the whole animal. 


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FAQs on Important Questions Class 6 English Honeysuckle Chapter 9

1. What are some important questions to prepare from Chapter 9, "Desert Animals," for the Class 6 English exam?

For the 2025-26 exams, students should focus on questions about the unique survival strategies of desert animals. Important topics include the adaptations of camels, how smaller animals like gerbils and beetles find water, the fight between a mongoose and a snake, and the different types of deserts. Be prepared for both short (2-mark) and long (3-5 mark) answer questions based on these concepts.

2. How do smaller desert animals like gerbils and darkling beetles survive the harsh desert conditions?

Smaller desert animals have clever ways to survive the extreme heat and lack of water.

  • Gerbils spend the hottest part of the day in cool underground burrows and get the moisture they need from the seeds they eat and their own metabolism.
  • The darkling beetle has a unique method to collect water; it catches drops of moisture on its legs and lifts them into the air until the water droplets trickle down into its mouth.

3. Describe three key adaptations of a camel that are important for exams based on Chapter 9.

As per the CBSE syllabus, a camel's key adaptations for desert life are an important topic. Three key features are:

  • Water Conservation: Camels can drink a large amount of water at once and can survive for long periods without it because they sweat very little.
  • Protective Features: They have long eyelashes and nostrils that can be closed to protect against blowing sand. Their shaggy winter coat protects from cold and falls away in summer.
  • The Hump: Contrary to popular belief, the hump stores fat, not water. This fat serves as a vital source of energy when food is scarce in the desert.

4. Why do most smaller desert animals prefer to be active only at night?

Most smaller desert animals are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night, as a crucial survival strategy. During the day, the desert sun is extremely hot and can cause fatal dehydration. By staying in cool, underground burrows during the day and coming out at night when temperatures are much lower, these animals successfully conserve energy and water.

5. What makes a mongoose a better fighter than a cobra, as described in the chapter?

The chapter explains that a mongoose often wins a fight against a more venomous cobra due to its superior tactics, not strength. The mongoose's key advantage is its incredible speed and agility. It continuously dodges the snake's attacks, forcing the cobra to strike repeatedly and become tired. Once the snake is exhausted, the mongoose quickly dives in to kill it.

6. Does the chapter "Desert Animals" support the idea that all deserts are endless seas of sand? Explain why or why not.

No, the chapter corrects this common misconception. It clarifies that a desert is not always a flat, sandy wasteland. Deserts can also be rocky or pebbly and may feature hills. The chapter also introduces the concept of a desert oasis—a green island with a spring or well—which proves that vibrant life and water sources can exist even in the driest of environments.

7. What are the key characteristics of a mongoose that a student should remember for an exam?

For exam purposes, the key characteristics of a mongoose highlighted in the chapter are:

  • They are famous for their ability to kill venomous snakes without getting hurt.
  • They are social animals that often travel in groups of about twenty to hunt for food like beetles and other small creatures.
  • They are known to be very amusing and are sometimes domesticated as pets to keep homes safe from snakes.