Unit 1 Week 2 Skills Test*

Friday, March 27, 2009. 2:15 p.m. I arrive fifteen minutes early for my shift at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and I immediately feel the excitement in the air. Connie and Phoebe, both Asian elephants, stand together at the top of the outdoor elephant hill. Connie is 35 years old. She is the only other female in the herd besides Phoebe, who is 21 years old. But there is one other big difference between the two female elephants, or cows: Phoebe is pregnant.

The elephants’ caretakers and I have been excited about Phoebe’s pregnancy for a long time. Gestation is the name for the period between when a living thing becomes pregnant and gives birth. Most Asian elephants have a gestation period of 21–23 months, or 620–660 days. Today, Phoebe has been pregnant for 655 days.

I work at the zoo as a veterinarian. Along with the caretakers, it’s my job to keep a close eye on Phoebe. We’ve done so throughout her pregnancy, but especially over the last few days. Blood tests hint that Phoebe’s new calf might arrive soon. The staff has created a safe indoor space for Phoebe to give birth alone. We prepared for Phoebe to have her baby in the evening or overnight, like Asian elephants usually do in the wild. But today, this baby elephant had different plans.

  2:30 p.m. One of the staff members suddenly knocks on my door, explaining in a rush that Phoebe is acting strangely. As I walk briskly into the indoor space, I see that Phoebe is standing normally, but she seems uncomfortable. She lifts one back leg and then the other, and then she flicks her tail and flaps her ears. This makes Connie curious, so she comes near Phoebe to check. Suddenly, something appears on Phoebe’s underside. Within a few minutes, a large sack-like object falls from her stomach to the ground, along with a large amount of blood. I hear one of the elephants’ caretakers behind me gasp and whisper, “The baby elephant was just born!”​

I tell everyone to keep a safe distance so we can watch the birth carefully. Phoebe stays very close to the calf. She uses her trunk to investigate him and clean him off. Suddenly, Connie begins making strange noises and flapping her ears. She is trying to communicate something to Phoebe. She begins stomping her feet and stepping very close to the helpless calf on the ground! Does she think Phoebe is hurt because she smells Phoebe’s blood? Phoebe makes noises in return and tries to step between the calf and Connie.

2:45 p.m. The drama between Phoebe and Connie continues, so the elephant keepers and I try calling Connie’s name to get her attention. We give her commands to come to us so that we can protect the newborn from being stepped on accidentally! Most Asian elephant calves will be able to stand within an hour or two. Phoebe’s baby tries standing again and again. He succeeds after around fifteen minutes. As he walks underneath his mother Phoebe, his “aunt” Connie calms down.

Did our calls distract Connie? Did her instincts finally tell her that Phoebe was okay? Or was she simply concerned about the newborn calf lying on the ground? I’ll never know for sure. But I do know that Connie has grown into an excellent aunt for the new baby that would soon be named Beco.

• I read the text

• I didn't read the text

What does the information in paragraph 3 add to the passage?

3       I work at the zoo as a veterinarian. Along with the caretakers, it’s my job to keep a close eye on Phoebe. We’ve done so throughout her pregnancy, but especially over the last few days. Blood tests hint that Phoebe’s new calf might arrive soon. The staff has created a safe indoor space for Phoebe to give birth alone. We prepared for Phoebe to have her baby in the evening or overnight, like Asian elephants usually do in the wild. But today, this baby elephant had different plans.

• It shows where the newborn elephant would live after it was born.

• It explains the differences between the veterinary and animal care teams.

• It explains the concern that everyone had that something would go wrong.

• It shows why the keepers were surprised Phobe gave birth in the afternoon.

Which word in paragraph 4 is a homograph of a word that means “a slip of paper listing the amount owed”?

4 2:30 p.m. One of the staff members suddenly knocks on my door, explaining in a rush that Phoebe is acting strangely. As I walk briskly into the indoor space, I see that Phoebe is standing normally, but she seems uncomfortable. She lifts one back leg and then the other, and then she flicks her tail and flaps her ears. This makes Connie curious, so she comes near Phoebe to check. Suddenly, something appears on Phoebe’s underside. Within a few minutes, a large sack-like object falls from her stomach to the ground, along with a large amount of blood. I hear one of the elephants’ caretakers behind me gasp and whisper, “The baby elephant was just born!”​

• leg

• tail

• check

• object

Which sentence from the passage shows why the staff members think Phoebe is “acting strangely”? (paragraph 4)

• “She lifts one back leg and then the other, and then she flicks her tail and flaps her ears.”

• “Within a few minutes, a large sack-like object falls from her stomach to the ground, along with a large amount of blood.”

• “Suddenly, Connie begins making strange noises and flapping her ears.”

• “Phoebe’s baby tries standing again and again.”

“Along with the caretakers, it’s my job to keep a close eye on Phoebe.” (paragraph 3)

What is the meaning of the underlined word as used in the sentence?

• near

• resting flat

• baby animal

“Blood tests hint that Phoebe’s new calf might arrive soon.” (paragraph 3)

What is the meaning of the underlined word as used in the passage?

• near

• resting flat

• baby animal

“Or was she simply concerned about the newborn calf lying on the ground?” (paragraph 7)

What is the meaning of the underlined word as used in the sentence?

• baby animal

• near

• resting flat