The document provides definitions for several words related to deserts and vegetation: - Vast means extensive, and is used to describe desertlands. - Rare refers to uncommon things, like desertflowers. - Sri Lanka is described as an island. - Vegetation refers to plants found in deserts. - Humidity describes the wetness or moisture in the air after rain.

1. New words
Vast : extensive
A vast desertland.
Rare : uncommon
A rare desertflower.
Island : land surrounded by water
Sri Lanka is an island.
Vegetation: plants
Vegetationfound in the
desert.
Humid : wetness/moist
There is humidity in air after rain
fall.
Question 1:
From the first paragraph
(i) pick out two phrases which describe the desert as most people believe it is;
(ii) Pick out two phrases which describe the desert as specialists see it.
Which do you think is an apt description, and why?
Answer:
(i) Most people believe that a desert is an endless stretch of sand; water less and
without shelter.
(ii) a beautiful place; the home of a variety of people, animals and plants Description (ii)
is apt. Human experience tells us so.

2. Question 2:
Answer:
short questions
1. What is a desert?
A: A desert is an endless stretchof sandwithno or little rainfall and
vegetation.
2. How many types of deserts are there?
A: There are two types of deserts. Hot desert andacold desert.
3. Whichanimal is called“The Ship of the Desert?’’
A: The camel is called“The Ship of the Desert’’.
4. What is an oasis?
A: Anoasis is a greenislandinthe middle of a desert.
2. 1. Describe the desert which is apt?
A: A desert can be a beautiful place with a home of a variety of people, animals
and plants that live in very hot and dry conditions.

3. Comprehension Check (Page 19)
1. A camel can do without water for days together. What is the reason given in the text?
A: Camels sweat very little and can stand high body temperature. They can drink a lot of
water at one time and retain it for long periods of time.
Question 2:
How do the smaller desert animals fulfill their need for water?
Answer:
The smaller desert animals spend the day in the underground burrows to escape the
heat. Some of them eat other animals and get the water they need from the moisture in
the meat. Others eat plants and get the water they need from plant juices.
Question 3:
In a desert the temperature rises during the day and falls rapidly at night. Why?
Answer:
In humid climates, the air has moisture that protects the earth’s surface from the heat of
the sun. Since deserts have no moisture cover, they heat up rapidly during the day and
cool off rapidly at night.
Exercise (Page 19)
Do the following activities in group
Question 1:
Describe a desert in your own way. Write a paragraph and read it aloud to your
classmates.
Answer:
A desert is usually a dry, hot and horrifying place. That is why only the nomads and
camels in a small number live there. Of course, there are green patches also near the
water spring. These places are called oases. The deserts occupy vast areas. In India
the hot desert of Rajasthan can also be turned into fertile agricultural land provided we
take water over there through canals.
Question 2:
Go to the library and collect information about the lifestyle of people in desert areas-
their food, clothes, work, social customs, etc.Show this information with the group.
Answer:
The nomads are homeless people in desert areas. They keep shifting to places where
they can get food and fodder. Their life is very hard. They use camels for transportation.
They eat mainly meat and dates. They weave their clothes from the wool of camel or

4. sheep. Their life style is very simple. They look to the sky for rain water. Thev have
developed their own customs.
MORE QUESTIONS SOLVED
I. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question 1:
Who finds it difficult to imagine what a desert is Uke?
Answer:
Some people living in regions covered with forests and surrounded with hills find it
difficult to imagine what a desert is like.
Question 2:
What happens when it rains in deserts?
Answer:
Rains are rare in the deserts. Whenever it rains, desert flowers start blooming The sight
becomes as rewarding as that of any tropical garden.
Question 3:
What is an oasis? How is it useful for desert plants?
Answer:
An oasis is like a green island in the middle of a desert where a spring or a well gives
plants and trees a better chance to grow.
Question 4:
How do desert plants and animals differ from most plants and animals?
Answer:
Desert plants and animals have developed the ability to require less water than most
plants and animals.
II. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
Question 1:
How do the desert plants fulfill their need for water?
Answer:
Some desert plants adopt themselves to the life they lead. The cactus plants have thick
stems. They store water in them. Their roots lie close to the surface of the ground. The
roots quickly absorb the moisture from the light rains that occasionally fall. In this way,
their fulfill their need for water. A few plants that live in deserts have developed the
ability to require less water than most plants in other regions.