Class 8 English: Reading Comprehension — Chapter Test 1

The turtles' journey

Every year, thousands of Olive Ridley turtles arrive on the beaches of Odisha to lay their eggs. This mass nesting, called 'arribada', can involve lakhs of turtles coming ashore over a few nights. Each female digs a pit in the sand, lays about a hundred eggs, covers them and returns to the sea. After about fifty days, the tiny hatchlings break out and crawl towards the brightest horizon, which is usually the moonlit sea. Bright lights from nearby towns and roads can confuse them and lead them inland, where they die. Fishing nets and plastic waste in the sea are also serious dangers. Local volunteers now patrol the beaches, turn off unnecessary lights during the hatching season and help the hatchlings reach the water safely. Because of such efforts, more baby turtles survive their first journey to the ocean.

The turtles' journey

Every year, thousands of Olive Ridley turtles arrive on the beaches of Odisha to lay their eggs. This mass nesting, called 'arribada', can involve lakhs of turtles coming ashore over a few nights. Each female digs a pit in the sand, lays about a hundred eggs, covers them and returns to the sea. After about fifty days, the tiny hatchlings break out and crawl towards the brightest horizon, which is usually the moonlit sea. Bright lights from nearby towns and roads can confuse them and lead them inland, where they die. Fishing nets and plastic waste in the sea are also serious dangers. Local volunteers now patrol the beaches, turn off unnecessary lights during the hatching season and help the hatchlings reach the water safely. Because of such efforts, more baby turtles survive their first journey to the ocean.

The turtles' journey

Every year, thousands of Olive Ridley turtles arrive on the beaches of Odisha to lay their eggs. This mass nesting, called 'arribada', can involve lakhs of turtles coming ashore over a few nights. Each female digs a pit in the sand, lays about a hundred eggs, covers them and returns to the sea. After about fifty days, the tiny hatchlings break out and crawl towards the brightest horizon, which is usually the moonlit sea. Bright lights from nearby towns and roads can confuse them and lead them inland, where they die. Fishing nets and plastic waste in the sea are also serious dangers. Local volunteers now patrol the beaches, turn off unnecessary lights during the hatching season and help the hatchlings reach the water safely. Because of such efforts, more baby turtles survive their first journey to the ocean.

The turtles' journey

Every year, thousands of Olive Ridley turtles arrive on the beaches of Odisha to lay their eggs. This mass nesting, called 'arribada', can involve lakhs of turtles coming ashore over a few nights. Each female digs a pit in the sand, lays about a hundred eggs, covers them and returns to the sea. After about fifty days, the tiny hatchlings break out and crawl towards the brightest horizon, which is usually the moonlit sea. Bright lights from nearby towns and roads can confuse them and lead them inland, where they die. Fishing nets and plastic waste in the sea are also serious dangers. Local volunteers now patrol the beaches, turn off unnecessary lights during the hatching season and help the hatchlings reach the water safely. Because of such efforts, more baby turtles survive their first journey to the ocean.

The turtles' journey

Every year, thousands of Olive Ridley turtles arrive on the beaches of Odisha to lay their eggs. This mass nesting, called 'arribada', can involve lakhs of turtles coming ashore over a few nights. Each female digs a pit in the sand, lays about a hundred eggs, covers them and returns to the sea. After about fifty days, the tiny hatchlings break out and crawl towards the brightest horizon, which is usually the moonlit sea. Bright lights from nearby towns and roads can confuse them and lead them inland, where they die. Fishing nets and plastic waste in the sea are also serious dangers. Local volunteers now patrol the beaches, turn off unnecessary lights during the hatching season and help the hatchlings reach the water safely. Because of such efforts, more baby turtles survive their first journey to the ocean.