English Reading Comprehension For Grade 5 Children

• Passage-1: My Nephew
• Passage-2: Bu-cola
• Passage-3: Yusri and Yusra
• Passage-4: Mother
• Passage-5: Pangolins
• Passage-6: Earthquakes
• Passage-7: When Your Time Comes
• Passage-8: Collecting Fossils
• Passage-9: The Bicycle
• Passage-10: The Egg and the Bottle
• Passage-11: Sasha’s Night Alone
• Passage-12: About The Cat
• Passage-13: Isle Of Jormuguar
• Passage-14: Shoes: Taking One Step at A Time

Passage 12 - About The Cat

Passage for reading comprehension followed by vocabulary questions for Grade 5 students.

The following paragraphs are about the cat. Read them very carefully and choose the right answers for the questions given below.

When we think of ‘cat’ we usually mean only the domesticated cat, which is very popular around the world as a house pet. Owners of cats as pets like to pamper them with all sorts of pet accessories. Indeed, there are umpteen number of products on the market for grooming and styling the cat. Cat food and cat litter are available in many brands and qualities.

Even though domesticated, they retain many of the qualities of a typical predator. They are fascinated by small objects that move. Presumably, they imagine these to be prey, and play with them. They are fascinated by small birds too. Many a house cat can be seen wistfully staring from the windowsill at the flock of pigeons just outside the house.

The cat family is quite large and includes 38 species. It includes everything from the small cats we keep as pets to Siberian tigers weighing 275 kilograms and reaching four metres long. Some others are the lion, the leopard and the jaguar. Generally, tigers are three metres long. They are without mane and are of tawny yellow colour with blackish transverse stripes and white belly. They shed their coat seasonally and shelter from hot sun during the day. They hunt at night. The animal is proverbial for ferocity and cunningness. They are renowned as the ultimate hunters and predators. The lion in particular is often called the king of the jungle.

There are some characteristics that are shared by all members of the cat family. They all have flexible bodies with muscular limbs. Their tongues are covered with spiky papillae that help with grooming. They have sensitive whiskers on their cheeks and above eyes. They have excellent vision. Cats’ eyes shine at night because their eyes are equipped with a membrane that can reflect light back inside their eyeballs. Many a legend involving the magical powers of cats is born of the eerie glow of their eyes at night.

Domesticated cats that are kept as pets are of many kinds. Some of the popular cat breeds are Siamese cats, Domestic Longhair, British Shorthair, Persian cat, Ragdoll and Maine Coon. It may be difficult to believe it, but each of these breeds have distinct personalities. Siamese cats for example, are known to be highly intelligent. Main Coons have a water-resistant coat and they like playing in water. Ragdolls are affectionate, follow their humans around, and want to climb on bed. Domestic Longhair cats have a reputation as hunters.

The jungle cats are now facing challenges because of the ill-effects of human activities such as deforestation and urbanization without proper planning. Proper measures should be planned and taken to avoid the extinction of these beautiful creatures.

Choose the most appropriate word from the choices given that can replace the underlined word in the following sentences.

• When we think of ‘cat’ we usually mean only the domesticated cat, which is very popular around the world as a house pet.
  a) helpful b) loving c) tamed d) friendly
• They are fascinated by small objects that move.
  a) attracted b) liked c) loved d) caught
• Many a house cat can be seen wistfully staring from the windowsill at the flock of pigeons just outside the house.
  a) Carefully b) longingly c) lovingly d) regretfully
• The animal is proverbial for ferocity and cunningness.
  1) old b) well-known c) unknown d) ancient
• There are some characteristics that are shared by all members of the cat family.
  a) features b) facts c) characters d) feelings
• Cats’ eyes shine at night because their eyes are equipped with a membrane that can reflect light back inside their eyeballs.
  a) tools b) covered c) fitted d) lined
• Many a legend involving the magical powers of cats is born of the eerie glow of their eyes at night.
  a) beautiful b) bright c) unnerving d) extra ordinary
• It may be difficult to believe it, but each of these breeds have distinct personalities.
  a) different b) unique c) instinct d) peculiar
• Ragdolls are affectionate, follow their humans around, and want to climb on bed
  a) likely b) loving c) lovely d) friendly
• Domestic longhair cats have a reputation as hunters.
  a) name b) popularity c) knowledge d) news

Answer Key

• tamed
• attracted
• longingly
• well-known
• features
• fitted
• unnerving
• unique
• loving
• name