Unseen Passage- 5 | English Grammar Class 8 PDF Download

5. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:

1. In ancient cultures, sky-watching played an important role in navigation, agriculture, religion, and even entertainment. Those who observed the heavens connected stars to form patterns that is related to the heroes, gods and legends of their culture –known today as constellations. Most cultures named constellations and attached cultural meaning to their patterns. Native Americans, for instance, often used constellations to teach moral lessons. Today, the Western world acknowledges the constellations that originated in Mesopotamia more than 5,000 years ago. Babylonian, Egyptian and Greek astronomers also made contributions during the classical ages of their cultures.

2. Out of 88 constellations officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union,48 were identified in ancient times with just the naked eyes. The remaining 40 were added in more recent centuries. Each constellation has its own border ensuring that each star would be restricted to one constellation only.

3. Constellations change over time as the stars in them move through space. The dipper part of the Big Dipper in the constellations Ursa Major (Great Bear) appeared much squarer in the past. With the dipper’s bowl starting to elongate 100,000 years from now, it will look more like a soup bowl with a handle.

I. Based on your reading of the passage given above, answer the following questions.

(i) The astronomers of which other ancient cultures, apart from the Mesopotamians,

made important contributions to astronomy?

Babylonian, Egyptian and Greek astronomers also made contributions during the classical ages of their cultures.

(ii) In which sphere did sky-watching help the people of ancient cultures?

In ancient cultures, sky-watching played an important role in navigation, agriculture, religion, and even entertainment.

II. Complete the following sentences appropriately:

(i) Forty-eight constellations officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union were ______

identified with just the naked eyes

(ii) Constellations change______

Constellations change over time as the stars in them move through space.

(iii) Ancient sky-watchers gave us constellations by connecting stars in patterns related to their ______

that is related to the heroes, gods and legends of their culture – known today as constellations.

III. State whether the following statements are true or false:

(i) The dipper part of the Small Dipper in the constellations Ursa Major appeared much squarer in the past. ______

False

(ii) Total 87 constellations were officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union. _____

False

(iii) Dipper bowl will look more like a soup bowl with a handle. ______

True

(iv) Native Americans often used constellations to teach moral lessons. ______

True