Owen and Mzee Comprehension Quiz

According to Dr. Paula, how would wild hippos treat Owen DIFFERENTLY from another wild hippo?

• They would welcome him because he is strong.

• They would care for him because his is young and helpless.

• They would ignore him because he is friends with a tortoise.

• They would attack him because they would think he is an intruder.

How is Owen's enclosure at Haller Park similar to a hippo's natural habitat?

• They both have mud.

• They both have waves.

• They both have tortoises.

• They both have caregivers.

What does the word scrambled bring to mind in the text below:

As soon as the ropes that held him were untied, Owen scrambled from the truck...

• regret and sorrow

• speed and urgency

• calm and friendliness

• grace and happiness

BEFORE Owen came to Haller Park, how were he and Mzee ALIKE?

• Both were lonely.

• Both were friendly.

• Both were stranded.

• Both were raised by people.

What does the word hissed mean in the sentence below:

He hissed at Owen and crawled away.

• feared

• surprised

• ran quickly toward

• made a warning sound

Which part of the text is a FACT?

• "Harder to explain is the affection that Mzee seems to show for Owen."

• "Or perhaps it was Mzee's protective presence that helped Owen feel calm."

• "As the weeks went on, Owen and Mzee spent more and more time together."

• "But it was clear that the bond between Owen and Mzee was helping the baby hippo..."

What does the word snuggled mean in the sentence below:

When the park workers checked on them in the morning Owen was snuggled up against Mzee.

• cuddled

• distrusted

• forced

• noticed

Which sentence below is an OPINION?

• Owen and Mzee trust each other.

• Mzee means "wise old man" in Swahili.

• Dr. Paula Kahumbu is the manager of Haller Park.

• Bushbuck and vervet monkeys live in Owen's enclosure.

How did the author organize the ideas in the sentences below?

An old, slow tortoise like Mzee can never protect Owen the way a fierce mother hippo could. But since Mzee's color and rounded shape are similar to a hippo's, it's possible that to Owen, Mzee look like the hippo mother he needs.

• by comparison and contrast

• by order of importance

• in time order

• by location

At the end of the article, how is Owen different than he was at the beginning?

• He is less trusting of other hippos.

• He is more like a tortoise.

• He seems smarter.

• He seems happier.