Chapter 1: The Tiny Teacher

Comprehension Check

Page 3

Question 1:

The story of an ant’s life sounds almost untrue. The italicised phrase means:

(i) highly exaggerated.

(ii) too remarkable to be true

(iii) not based on facts.

Answer:

(ii) too remarkable to be true.

Question 2:

Complete the following sentences :

(i) An ant is the smallest, …………

(ii) We know a number of facts about an ant’s life because … …….

Answer:

(i) the commonest but the wisest insect.

(ii) some people have watched their daily behaviour closely.

Question 3:

what ways is an ant’s life peaceful ?

Answer:

An ant’s life is very peaceful. This is because each one does its share of work intelligently and bravely. It never fights with other members of the group.

Comprehension Check

Page 5

Question 1:

How long does it take for a grub to become a complete ant?

Answer:

It takes around a period of six weeks for a grub to become a complete ant.

Question 2:

Why do the worker ants. carry the grubs about ?

Answer:

Workers after feeding and cleaning them, carry them about daily for airing, exercise and sunshine.

Question 3:

What jobs are new ants trained for ?

Answer:

The new ants are taught and trained properly. Ants learn their duties from old ants as workers, soldiers, builders, cleaners, etc.

Question 4:

Name some other creatures that live in anthills.

Answer:

Other creatures that live in anthills are beetles, lesser breeds of ants and the greenfly.

Question 5:

Mention three things we can learn from the “tiny teacher”. Give reasons for choosing these items.

Answer:

An ant, the tiny teacher can teach us hardwork, discipline and loyalty. I think we neglect these things in our lives. That is why I have chosen these.

Exercises

Question 1:

Discuss the following topics in groups :

(i) What problems are you likely to face if you keep ants as pets?

(ii) When a group of bees finds nectar, it informs other bees of its location, quantity, etc. through dancing. Can you guess what ants communicate to their fellow ants by touching one another’s feelers ?

Answer:

(i) If we keep ants as pets then we can face such problems as ants can spread everywhere in the house. Thus they can not only bite but can spoil the food also.

(ii) By touching one another’s feelers, the ants ‘talk’to each other by passing messages through them (the feelers). They might communicate about their mother queen and young ones. It is also their way of greeting each other.

Question 2:

Complete the following poem with words from the box below. Then recite the poem.

Soldiers live in barracks

And birds in ……………..

Much like a snake that rests

In a ………………. No horse is able

To sleep except in a …….

And a dog lives well,

Mind you, only in a ……………..

To say ‘hi’ to an ant, if you will,

You may have to climb an .

hole, kennel, nests, anthill, stable

Answer:

Soldiers live in barracks

And birds in nests

Much like a snake that rests

In a hole. No horse is able

To sleep except in a stable.

And a dog lives well,

Mind you, only in a kennel.

To say ‘hi’ to an ant, if you will,

You may have to climb an anthill.