Lions

The lion (Panthera Leo) is one of the big cats that is only second in size to the tiger. Currently wild lion only exist in sub-saharan africa and india. Where historically they could be found in most of Africa, including North Africa, and across Eurasia from Greece and southeastern Europe to India.

The lion is a well-muscled cat with a long body, large head, and short legs. The main difference between male lion from female lion is the mane. Manes are long hair that can usually be found on the neck of male lions. A full-grown male is about 1.8–2.1 metres long, excluding the 1-metre tail; he stands about 1.2 metres high at the shoulder and weighs 170–230 kg. The female, or lioness, is smaller, with a body length of 1.5 metres, a shoulder height of 0.9–1.1 metres, and a weight of 120–180 kg.

Female lions usually do most of the hunting, where males usually get their share from the female’s kill. But that doesn’t mean that male lions are helpless, they are also adept hunters. Lions prey on various animals, but they mainly hunt medium- to large-sized hoofed animals such as wildebeests, zebras, and antelopes.

Both sexes are polygamous and breed throughout the year, but females are usually restricted to the one or two adult males of their pride. In captivity lions often breed every year, but in the wild they usually breed no more than once in two years. Females are receptive to mating for three or four days within a widely variable reproductive cycle. During this time a pair generally mates every 20–30 minutes, with up to 50 copulations per 24 hours. The gestation period is about 108 days, and the litter size varies from one to six cubs, two to four being usual.

Questions

     1.      What is the most important characteristic that distinguish male from female lions?

a.       The size

b.      The lifespan

c.       The mane

d.      The method of hunting

e.       The ability to hunt

2.      What is the meaning of litter in the text?

a.       A condition of disorder or untidiness

      b.      To give birth to a number of young animals.

c.       To scatter (objects) in disorder.

d.      A number of young brought forth by a multiparous animal at one birth.

e.       To throw trash everywhere.

3.      Which one is not a hoofed animal?

a.       Zebras

b.      Antelopes

c.       Wildebeest

d.      Sheep

e.       Hyenas

4.      Where should you go to find wild lions nowadays?

a.       India

b.      North africa

c.       Ethiopia

d.      Egypt

e.       Morocco

 5.    How long is a fully growned lion?

      a.      3.1 metres

b.     1.8 metres

c.     1.5 metres

d.     4 metres

e.     1 metres