Unseen Passage- 10 | English Grammar Class 8 PDF Download

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

1. Eagles are birds of prey. Most of the 60 species of eagles are found in Eurasia and Africa. One such species is the Tawny Eagle.

2. It is mostly found in Africa, both north and south of Sahara Desert and across the tropical region from south-western Asia to India. It lays one to three eggs in a stick nest in a tree, cliff or on the ground. It favours open dry habitats like semi-deserts, deserts, or savannah plains.

3. The Tawny Eagle is a large bird of prey which is about 62 to 72 cm in length and has a wingspan of 165 to185cm. It usually weighs 1.6 to 2.4 kg. Like all other eagles, it belongs to the family of Accipitridae.

4. These eagles are relatively large and are considered to be rather handsome birds of prey with tawny upper parts and blackish flight feathers and tail whereas the lower back is very pale. The striking features of this type are its heavily feathered legs and dark markings on the wings especially the flight feathers.

5. The call of the Tawny eagles is a crow-like barking, though, generally, it is a silent bird. It eats large fresh carrion of all kinds. It also kills and eats small mammals like rabbits, reptiles and birds.

I. On the basis of your reading the above passage choose the most appropriate option and complete the sentences:

(i) The length of the Tawny Eagle is ______.
(a) exactly 62 to 72 cm
(b) about 62 to 72 cm
(c) 165-185 cm
(d) 1.6 to 2.4 kg

Correct Answer is Option (b)

(ii) The Tawny eagle is found in ______.
(a) Africa
(b) Southwestern Asia.
(c) India
(d) all the above

Correct Answer is Option (d)

II. State whether the following statements are True or False:

(i) Generally a silent bird but the Tawny Eagle does call at times.

True

(ii) Unlike all other eagles it belongs to the family of Accipitridae.

False

III. Complete the following sentences:

(i) The most common places where the Tawny Eagle lays its eggs are ______.

in a stick nest in a tree, cliff or on the ground.

(ii) These eagles are found in semi- desert and desert regions because ______.

It prefers open dry habitats.

(iii) The striking features of the Tawny Eagle are its ______.

heavily feathered legs and dark markings on the wings especially the flight feathers.

IV. Answer the following questions briefly:

(i) Why is the Tawny Eagle considered to be handsome?

Tawny upper parts with pale lower back and blackish flight feathers /heavily feathered legs and dark markings on the wings.

(ii) What does this species of eagle feed on for its survival?

Large fresh carrion of all kinds ,small mammals like rabbits, reptiles and birds

V. Find one word from the passage which means the following:

(i) A group of living organisms which are similar and capable of exchanging genes. (para1)

species