1. Reader 8 Unit 2 – A Magical Animal
1. How does the writer describe the Aye-aye?
Answer: The writer says that the Aye-aye’s eyes are hypnotic and its whiskers twitch and move like sensors.
He says that its spoon-like ears turn to and fro like radar dishes. Its fingers tap tree branches like a pianist
playing a difficult piece. Overall, feels the writer, it looks like an alien that could emerge from a flying saucer.
2. Where is the Aye-aye found?
Answer: The Aye-aye is found in Madagascar, an island in the Indian Ocean.
3. Did the Aye-aye attack the writer when it saw him?
Answer: No, the Aye-aye did not attack the writer when it saw him. The animal gently ran its fingers through
the writer’s hair and beard, as gentle as a barber.
4. Did the Aye-aye make any sound while it checked the writer closely?
Answer: It uttered a small, snorting noise that sounded like “humph” as it climbed onto the writer’s lap.
5. What was the Aye-aye looking for? Where did the Aye-aye look?
Answer: The Aye-aye was looking for beetle larvae. First, it broke the writer’s walking stick into two pieces
hoping to find larvae there. But there was nothing inside the stick. Next, it inserted a thin finger into the
writer’s ear. The Aye-aye did not find beetle larvae there either.
6. What did the writer think of his first encounter with the Aye-aye?
Answer: The writer felt that he was most fortunate to meet such a wonderful creature. He wanted to do all
he could to help it survive in the forests.
7. How is the Aye-aye ‘magical’?
Answer: While scientifically speaking, the Aye-aye is a magical animal because it is unique; the inhabitants of
Madagascar consider the Aye-aye to be a creature possessing a magical finger.
8. What is the musical sounding name that the writer refers to?
Answer: Since the Aye-aye is so unique, it has been given its own family in the animal kingdom and has been
christened with the musical sounding scientific name of Daubentonia madagascariensis.
9. What are the inhabitants of Madagascar called? Do they believe in magic?
Answer: The inhabitants of Madagascar are called the Malagasy. The island is filled with magic and taboos or
fadys. The Malagasy people also believe that Aye-ayes possess magical powers.

2. 10. Why are animals in Madagascar faced with extinction?
Answer: Aye-ayes and many of the unique creatures in Madagascar are faced with extinction because the
Malagasy people have been cutting down forests and there is almost no place left for these animals to live
on the island.
11. Were Aye-ayes ever thought to be extinct? What happened?
Answer: Yes, there was a time when Aye-ayes were thought to be extinct. Then, they were found living in
isolated pockets of the forests, clinging on to dear life. These animals had become survivors of sorts.
12. Why did the Aye-ayes ravage habitat that man had created?
Answer: As their natural resources were being destroyed, the Aye-ayes took to ravaging what man had
replaced them with—coconut plantations, sugarcane groves and orchards of cloves, looking for beetles.
13. According to the writer, what happens as forests continue to be destroyed?
Answer: As more and more forests continue to be destroyed; even the isolated groups of Aye-ayes that are
left in the forest could become extinct.

3. Revision/Challenge Question:
14. What are the other animals that are faced with extinction? How do you think they can be saved?
Answer: Free response.
Guidelines: Begin your answer by listing the animals
that are under threat from poaching and other i
can be spread to help save these animals.
nimals that are faced with extinction? How do you think they can be saved?
Begin your answer by listing the animals whose lives under threat today.
that are under threat from poaching and other illegal activities. Write about the different ways awareness
can be spread to help save these animals.
nimals that are faced with extinction? How do you think they can be saved?
whose lives under threat today. List the animals in India
Write about the different ways awareness