1. The family of snakes called vipers includes some of the most poisonous snakes in the world. These snakes live mostly in rain forests and wet places. They also dwell inside small caves in the mountains. Some examples of the snakes in this fearsome group are the water moccasin, rattlesnake and copperhead—all of which are found in the United States of America; the bushmaster and the fer de lance of South America, and the puff adder of Africa.
2. Vipers have thick bodies, short tails, and triangular heads. The fangs in their upper jaws inject poison into their victims’ bodies almost like a hypodermic needle. When the snakes bite, they contract the muscles around their poison sacs. These sacs are located behind the eyes. The poison squirts out through the hollow fangs. Almost half a teaspoon of poison is put into a victim at one time. Vipers mainly eat amphibians, small mammals, lizards and nestlings. The venom of the snake is not used for predators, meaning, they don’t fight with the venom, but they use it only for the prey. Their venom has more than a dozen toxic components. Fortunately, many of these snakes are small, so their bite is not fatal. An interesting fact is that these snakes can go without eating for a year. According to folklore, the touch of the tongue of the viper snake could heal a person.
3. The viper snake can have a lot of babies. During the month of August, the female snake gives birth to about 20 young ones in a litter. The eggs stay inside the mouth of the female viper. They are fed by the mother till they are old enough to take care of themselves. When the young are ready to come out, they are set free in the wild.
4. There are actually two main types of vipers—the true vipers and the pit vipers. The pit vipers live in Asia and the Americas. The name comes from a small hollow in the side of the snake’s head just below the eye. This small hollow or pit has a special nerve or a temperature-sensing mechanism. This nerve helps the pit viper to find its warm-blooded prey. Their organs have the same function as that of a mammal’s. True vipers don’t have this special nerve and must rely on their keen sense of smell to find their food. Vipers don’t usually strike unless they are disturbed or are looking for food. Still, it is a good idea to stay away from them.
1. Complete the following statements in your own words based on your reading of the passage.
(a) The pit viper gets its name from ………………………………
(b) The viper’s bite is compared to an injection because ………………………………
(c) We know that the mother viper is very protective from the fact that ……………………………
2. Find words/phrases from the passage which mean the same as the following.
(a) young birds (para 2): …………………………….
(b) poisonous (para 2): …………………………….
(c) deadly (para 2): …………………………….
Answers
1. Complete the following statements in your own words based on your reading of the passage.
(a) The name comes from a small hollow in the side of the snake’s head just below the eye.
(b) According to folklore, the touch of the tongue of the viper snake could heal a person.
(c) When the young are ready to come out, they are set free in the wild.
2. Find words /phrases from the passage which mean the same as the following.
(a) fangs
(b) toxic
(c) Fatal
Answer:
Explanation:
a) the pit viper gets its name due to a small hollow pit in the side of the snake's head just below the eyes.
b) the viper's bite is compared to an injection because The fangs in their upper jaws inject poison into their victims’ bodies almost like a hypodermic needle
c) we know that the mother viper is protective from the fact that the baby snakes are fed by the mother till they are old enough to take care of themselves
2. fangs , venom , fatal