Question

Read the following paragraph and answer the questions given at the end : A few years ago seven swallows were caught near their nests at Bremen in Germany. They were marked with a red dye on some of their white feathers, so that they could easily be seen. Then they were taken by aeroplane to Croydon, near London; this is a distance of 400 miles. The seven swallows were set free at Croydon. Five of them flew back to their nests at Bremen. How did the birds find their way on that long journey, which they had never made before? That is the great puzzle. It is no good saying thatthe swallows have a ‘sense of direction’, or an ‘instinct to go home’. These are just words, and explain nothing. We want to know exactly what senses the birds use to find their way, how they know in which direction to go until they can see familiar landmarks. Unfortunately practically no scientific experiments have yet been made on this question. Perhaps migrating birds are the greatest mystery of all. Swallows from England go as far as South Africa–a distance of 6,000 miles. And the birds not only return from Africa to England next spring, but often they come back to nest in the very same house where they nested the year before. 1. Answer the following questions : (i) What identification mark was put on the seven swallows caught at Bremen? 1½ (ii) How were the swallows taken from Bremen to Croydon? 1½ (iii) What did the seven swallows do in Croydon? 1½ (iv) What do scientists not know about migratory birds? 1½ (v) What is there in the nesting of swallows that surprises the author? (vi) Are swallows migratory birds? What is the colour of their feathers?​

Answer 1

Answer:

Seven swallow:—

Explanation:

1. They were marked with a red dye on some of their white feathers, so that they could easily be seen.
2. Then they were taken by aeroplane to Croydon, near London; this is a distance of 400 miles.
3. The seven swallows were set free at Croydon. Five of them flew back to their nests at Bremen.
4. The scientists could not figure out how the birds find their way, how they know in which direction to go until they can see familiar landmarks.
5. The birds not only return from Africa to England next spring, but often they come back to nest in the very same house where they nested the year before.
6. Yes Swallows are migrating birds, Swallows migrate during daylight, flying quite low and covering about 320 km (200 miles) each day. Since swallows feed entirely on flying insects, they don't need to fatten up before leaving, but can snap up their food along the way. The feathers are white in colour.