Big Talkers

The prefix un- helps the reader know that the word unfamiliar in paragraph 8 means —

• partly known

• known together

• known in the past

• not known

Based on information in the selection, what is the most likely reason the author includes the photograph of the baby elephant standing close to its mother?

• To suggest that the baby elephant is warning its mother that there is danger nearby

• To show the reader what the baby elephant does to try to get its mother to play with it

• To show the reader what the baby elephant does when it wants its mother to know it is hungry

• To suggest that the baby elephant feels safe and protected when it is near its mother

What is the best summary of the selection?

• Loud trumpeting sounds are just one of the sounds elephants make. They also make rumbles, barks, snorts, and cries to communicate with members of the herd.

• Elephants have many more ways of communicating than most people might think. Elephants use touch, smell, noise, and movement to give one another messages.

• An elephant’s trunk lets an elephant share messages such as “Let’s play” or “Danger!” The trunk has a sensitive tip for touching other elephants and picking up smells

• People and elephants both have a larynx, a body part that lets them make sounds. Elephants “talk” in low sounds, and elephants also use their sense of touch and smell a lot.

How do the subheadings provide an overview of the selection?

• They identify ways in which the elephant communicates.

• They describe important roles within the elephant herd.

• They tell why elephants need attention.

• They compare ways in which elephants find food.

Which sentence from the selection supports the idea that elephant herds try to guard themselves from danger?

• But an elephants huge larynx produces very low sounds.

• Some gestures - a twitch of the ear, a wag of the head - are so small that most people wouldn't even notice them.

• They think it may help elephants focus all their attention on the sounds and smells around them.

• If you ever wonder what an elephant is paying attention to, don't watch its eyes.

Based on the information in paragraph 4, what can the reader infer about elephants?

• An elephant's ear helps them to communicate.

• Elephants usually feel happy or scared.

• A large herd will rarely experience danger.

• Scientist's are confused by an elephant's body language.

The author includes questions at the end of paragraph 6, most likely to -

• To show details scientist hope to learn about elephants.

• To show that their most important sense is smell.

• To show they can identify members of their own herd.

• To show that elephants gather information from different smells.