Comprehension Exercise 12/10/07

English Unit 11 Comprehension Passage and answers.

Revisit the revision entry http://idependentlearner.blogspot.com/2007/08/erevision-english-16807.html before looking at the answers below.

You may want to use the online dictionary.http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

Unit 11 (Text type - Information Report)

The camel - once a wild animal, was domesticated about 4000 - 6000 years ago. For thousands of years, it has been an essential part of the lives of people living in the deserts of Asia and Africa. This "ship of the desert" can travel great distances ferrying people and loads of goods across hot deserts.

Besides being a beast of burden, the camel is in many other ways useful to desert dwellers. It is a source of food in terms of meat and milk. Its hair and hide can also be used to make necessary things such as tents, blankets, scandals, rugs and clothing. Dried camel droppings are also used as fuel.

There are basically two species of camels. The first is the single-humped camel, also known as the dromedary or Arabian camel while the second is the Bactrian, or Asian camel, which has two humps. The camel's hump consists of fat and muscle without any bone. It is hard and upright when the camel is given enough food and water. If the camel has to go without food and water for a period of time, it can be nourished for a few days by the fat stored in the hump, but the hump will then become limp and lean to one side.

1. What is the camel popularly known as?

Answer: It is known as "the ship of the desert".

2. Why is it so called?

Answer: It can ferry people over great distances and carry loads of goods across hot deserts.

3. Name two ways the camel is useful to desert dwellers?

Answer: (Any two of the following.) It is a source of food. Its hair and hide can be used to make useful things. Its droppings can be used as fuel.

4. Name one difference between the Arabian camel and the Bactrian camel?

Answer: The Arabian camel has one hump while the Bactrian camel has two humps.

5. When does the camel's hump become limp?

Answer: It becomes limp when the camel goes without food and water for a period of time and the fat in the hump is used up.