Reading comprehension exercise about African Elephants, from the "Let's Read, Think and Write" series. Book 3A

1. African Elephants
Part A: Read.
Type: Mammal
Size: Up to 3.3m (10 ft.)
Weight: Up to 6000kg (6.6 tons)
Diet: Herbivore
• African elephants are the largest land animals on earth.
• Their large ears help cool them down in hot climates.
• Both female and male African elephants have tusks. They use their
tusks for digging and finding food and water. An adult elephant
needs to drink more than 200 litres of water a day.
• Elephants are herbivores, which means they only eat leaves, roots
and plants. They can spend over 15 hours a day searching for food.
• An elephant uses it’s trunk to lift food and suck up water, which it
then places into it’s mouth. The trunk can grow to about 2 metres
long and can weigh 140kg, so it is very heavy!
• Female elephants are called cows. Their babies are called calves.
Elephants start to have calves when they are about 12 years old,
and they are pregnant for 22 months.
• Female elephants live in large groups called herds. Male elephants
will only live in the herd until they are about 13 years old. After
this, they will leave the herd and live the rest of their lives alone.
• Elephants enjoy swimming, and use their trunks like a snorkel to
breathe in deep water.
• Elephants have no natural predators, and their main risk is from
humans killing them through poaching.
• Elephants are sensitive animals, and can show emotion just like
humans do. If one of their family members die, the elephant will
show sadness by crying tears.

2. Part B: Answer the questions using full sentences.
1. What helps cool an elephant down?
____________________________________________________.
2. What do elephants use their tusks for?
____________________________________________________.
3. What does the male elephant do once he is around 13 years old?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________.
4. What is a herd?
____________________________________________________.
5. What is the main risk to elephants?
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________.
Part C: Are these statements true or false?
Write true (T) or false (F)
_____1. Elephants eat meat.
_____2. Only male elephants have tusks.
_____3. An elephant uses its trunk to suck up water.
_____4. Female elephants leave the herd and live alone.
_____5. Elephants can cry.
_____6. Elephants like swimming.
Part D: In your own words, say whether you think an African
Elephant would make a good pet.
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________.