Class 6 English Notes Chapter 9 (Desert Animals; Whatif) – HoneySuckle Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 9 from your HoneySuckle textbook. This chapter includes an informative piece, 'Desert Animals', and a thought-provoking poem, 'Whatif'. Both are important, so pay close attention.

Chapter 9: Desert Animals & Whatif - Detailed Notes

Part 1: Desert Animals

Introduction:
This prose piece challenges the common perception of deserts as barren, lifeless sand dunes. It highlights the surprising variety of life found in deserts and explores the remarkable ways animals adapt to survive in these harsh environments, characterized by extreme temperatures and scarcity of water.

Key Concepts & Themes:

1. What is a Desert?

   • Not always endless sand dunes. Can be rocky, pebbly, with scattered bushes and colourful flowers (during spring).
   • Defined by dryness and extreme temperatures (very hot days, very cold nights).
   • Water scarcity is the primary challenge.

2. Adaptation Strategies (General):

   • Coping with Heat: Many smaller animals (like gerbils) escape the intense heat by staying in underground burrows during the day.
   • Finding Water:
     • Animals get water from the moisture in the meat they eat (carnivores).
     • Others eat plants and seeds, obtaining water from plant juices.
     • Some insects, like the Darkling Beetle, have unique methods to collect dew/moisture from the air.

3. Specific Animal Adaptations:

   • Gerbils: Small rodents that spend the hottest part of the day in cool underground burrows.
   • Darkling Beetles: Found in dry deserts; catch drops of moisture on their legs, lift them into the air, and let the water trickle down into their mouths.
   • Camel:
     • "Ship of the Desert": Well-adapted for desert life.
     • Water Conservation: Can drink a huge amount of water (up to 30 gallons) in about 10 minutes. Can survive for long periods without water. Gets moisture from tough desert plants. Sweats very little.
     • Temperature Regulation: Thick skin protects from the sun. Shaggy winter coat keeps warm; shorter, tidier summer coat keeps cool.
     • Physical Adaptations: Long eyelashes and closable nostrils protect against blowing sand. Padded feet for walking on sand.
     • Humps: Store fat (not water), which provides energy when food is scarce. Dromedary camels have one hump; Bactrian camels have two.
   • Snakes:
     • Various species inhabit deserts. Some lay eggs; others give birth to live young.
     • Rattlesnake:
       • Common in American deserts.
       • Uses its rattle (at the tail end) to warn predators or intruders. Holds tail upright when rattling.
       • Avoids humans if possible but strikes quickly with venom if threatened.
       • Venom is potent and can kill.
       • Hunts small animals (mice, voles, rats, chipmunks).
       • Poor eyesight but detects prey through vibrations in the ground and body heat.
   • Mongooses:
     • Small carnivorous mammals.
     • Social Behaviour: Often live and hunt in groups (around 20). Forage together, always keeping a lookout for danger (hawks, eagles, large snakes). Warn each other with specific calls.
     • Diet: Insects, beetles, small creatures.
     • Famous Snake Fighters: Known for their ability to kill snakes (including venomous ones like cobras) due to their extremely fast reactions, dodging strikes until the snake tires.
     • Habitat: Live in burrows, hollow logs, or among rocks. Raise their young (kits) together in a den.

Vocabulary Highlights:

• Scorching: Extremely hot.
• Burrow: A hole or tunnel dug by a small animal as a dwelling.
• Moisture: Wetness caused by water.
• Adaptation: The process of changing to suit different conditions.
• Survive: Continue to live or exist, especially in spite of danger or hardship.
• Predator: An animal that naturally preys on others.
• Prey: An animal that is hunted and killed by another for food.
• Venom: Poisonous substance secreted by animals like snakes.
• Forage: Search widely for food or provisions.

Part 2: Whatif (Poem)

Poet: Shel Silverstein

Theme: Anxiety, irrational fears, and the nature of worry.

Summary:
The poem describes the experience of lying in bed at night when persistent, worrying thoughts ("Whatifs") enter the speaker's mind. These thoughts are personified as creatures that "prance and party" all night long. The worries range from the mundane or silly (green hair, closed swimming pool) to the serious (war, parental separation, personal failure, illness, death). The poem captures the overwhelming and often illogical nature of anxiety that can keep someone awake.

Structure and Tone:

• Uses repetition of the phrase "Whatif" to emphasize the relentless stream of worries.
• The tone is anxious and slightly frantic, reflecting the speaker's state of mind.
• There's an element of childhood vulnerability and imagination in the types of fears expressed.

Message:
The poem explores how anxieties, both big and small, rational and irrational, can dominate one's thoughts, especially during quiet times like night. It highlights the common human experience of 'what-if' thinking.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):

1. According to 'Desert Animals', deserts are primarily defined by their:
   a) Vast sand dunes
   b) Lack of any vegetation
   c) Dryness and extreme temperatures
   d) Large camel populations

2. How do Gerbils typically cope with the extreme daytime heat in the desert?
   a) By drinking large amounts of water
   b) By staying in cool, underground burrows
   c) By migrating to cooler areas
   d) By having thick, insulating fur

3. The Darkling Beetle obtains water by:
   a) Eating juicy desert plants
   b) Drinking from desert springs
   c) Catching moisture drops from the air on its legs
   d) Licking dew off rocks

4. What is stored in a camel's hump?
   a) Water
   b) Air
   c) Sand
   d) Fat

5. Which feature helps protect a camel's eyes from blowing sand?
   a) Thick skin
   b) Small nostrils
   c) Long eyelashes
   d) Padded feet

6. The rattlesnake uses its rattle primarily to:
   a) Attract mates
   b) Locate prey
   c) Warn potential threats
   d) Communicate with other snakes

7. Mongooses are known for hunting together and:
   a) Storing food in their burrows
   b) Keeping a lookout for predators
   c) Hibernating during winter
   d) Building nests in trees

8. In the poem 'Whatif', where do the 'Whatifs' primarily bother the speaker?
   a) At school
   b) While playing outside
   c) In bed at night
   d) During meal times

9. The poem 'Whatif' by Shel Silverstein mainly explores the theme of:
   a) Desert adventures
   b) Animal adaptations
   c) Childhood friendships
   d) Anxiety and worry

10. What does the word "forage" mean in the context of the mongooses?
    a) To fight fiercely
    b) To search for food
    c) To build a shelter
    d) To sleep deeply

Answer Key:

1. c
2. b
3. c
4. d
5. c
6. c
7. b
8. c
9. d
10. b

Study these notes carefully. Understanding animal adaptations and the theme of the poem 'Whatif' are crucial. Good luck with your preparation.