A Snake and Snake Charmer — Important Questions

Python

Step 1: The chapter lists exactly four poisonous snakes in India: Cobra, Common Krait, Russel's Viper (Duboiya), and Saw-scaled Viper (Afai). Step 2: A Python is a large snake but it is NOT poisonous — it kills prey by squeezing, not by venom. Step 3: Cobra is a well-known poisonous snake — it is on the list. Step 4: Common Krait is also poisonous and on the list. Step 5: Russel's Viper is also poisonous and on the list. So Python is the correct answer as it does NOT belong to the four poisonous types mentioned.

The snake's own poison

Step 1: The chapter's 'Do you know?' section explains how snake bite medicine works. Step 2: It states: 'There is a medicine for snake bites. The medicine is made from the snake's poison only.' Step 3: This is a fascinating scientific fact — the snake's own poison is used to create the antidote (anti-venom). Step 4: While Dadaji did use plant-based medicines from forests for general treatments, the official medicine for snake bites is different. Step 5: Snake skin and neem leaves have no role in anti-venom medicine.

Because some people were killing animals and selling their skins at high prices

Step 1: Dadaji explains the problem that the Kalbeliya community faces because of the new government law. Step 2: He says: 'Some people kill the animals and sell their skins at high prices. So government has formed a law against them.' Step 3: The law was made to protect wild animals from being hunted and traded illegally — this is called poaching. Step 4: The Kalbeliya people did not kill snakes; they kept them and used them for livelihood. However, the law affected them too. Step 5: The other options are not reasons mentioned in the chapter for making this law.

Snakes eat rats that destroy crops

Step 1: The chapter explains why snakes should be considered friends of farmers. Step 2: It states: 'Tell them how snakes are friends of the farmers. They eat the rats in the fields, otherwise rats would eat the crops.' Step 3: Rats are a major pest for farmers — they eat and destroy stored grains and standing crops. Step 4: Snakes naturally control the rat population by eating them, which protects the crops. Step 5: This is a real ecological role of snakes — they are important for the balance of nature and agriculture.