Class 8 English Question Answers - Whose Place is it Anyway?

Short Type Questions

Q1: Which animal is threatened by the workings of a mine?
Ans: The golden mole is threatened by the workings of a mine.

Q2: Name two animals that are living on borrowed time.
Ans: The pine marten and polecat are living on borrowed time.

Q3: What poses a threat to hippos?
Ans: Hippos cannot hide from illegal poachers' guns.

Q4: Which animal species in Botswana is at risk?
Ans: The cheetahs of Botswana may be watching their last setting suns.

Q5: What is the impact of Arctic ice dissolution on polar bears?
Ans: As Arctic ice dissolves, polar bears decline in numbers.

Long Type Questions

• Pollution of the waters poses a significant threat to the manta ray population.
• Contaminants such as plastic waste, oil spills, and chemical pollutants harm their habitat and food sources.
• The accumulation of plastic debris can lead to entanglement, suffocation, or ingestion by manta rays.
• Chemical pollutants can disrupt their reproductive systems and overall health.
• As the pollution worsens, the manta ray population declines, affecting the balance of the marine ecosystem.

Q2: Explain the consequences of logging on the survival of koalas in their hollows.
Ans: 

• Koalas heavily rely on trees, particularly eucalyptus, for food and shelter.
• Logging operations result in the destruction of their natural habitat and food sources.
• With the loss of trees, koalas lose their primary shelter, which includes hollows in old trees.
• Koalas use these hollows for resting, breeding, and protection from predators.
• The ruthless logging practices threaten the survival of koalas as they lose their essential habitats, leading to population decline and increased vulnerability.

Q3: Discuss the importance of saving ponds for the Great crested newt.
Ans: 

• Ponds play a vital role in the life cycle of the Great crested newt.
• Ponds provide breeding grounds for these newts, allowing them to reproduce.
• The presence of aquatic vegetation and insects in ponds provides a food source for newt larvae.
• Ponds also offer shelter and protection for the newts from terrestrial predators.
• Destruction or pollution of ponds disrupts the newts' reproductive cycle and reduces their habitat.
• Conserving ponds ensures the survival of the Great crested newt population and maintains biodiversity within aquatic ecosystems.

Q4: Analyze the impact of habitat loss and roads on snakes.
Ans: 

• Habitat loss due to urbanization and development projects leads to the fragmentation and destruction of snake habitats.
• Snakes require specific environmental conditions, such as vegetation cover and suitable prey, to survive.
• The conversion of habitats into roads disrupts the connectivity between different snake populations.
• Roads act as barriers, inhibiting snakes' movement, foraging, and breeding activities.
• Snakes may become more vulnerable to road mortality due to increased chances of being hit by vehicles.
• As habitat turns to road, snake populations decline, and their ecological role as predators and prey is disrupted.

Q5: Discuss the significance of conserving the Puerto Rican toad and its relationship with parking lots.
Ans: 

• The Puerto Rican toad is an endangered species native to Puerto Rico.
• It faces threats primarily due to habitat loss and fragmentation.
• The expansion of urban areas often involves the construction of parking lots.
• The construction of parking lots results in the destruction of the toad's natural habitat, which includes moist forests and surrounding areas.
• As their habitat diminishes, the Puerto Rican toad population declines, further pushing the species towards extinction.
• Protecting the toad's habitat and implementing conservation measures are crucial to ensure their survival and prevent their disappearance.