Big Talkers

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

• A

  partly known

• B

  known together

• C

  known in the past

• D

  not known

What is the best summary of the selection?

• F

  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.

• G

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

• H

  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.

• J

  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.

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?

• A

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

• B

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

• C

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

• D

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

How do the subheadings provide an overview of the selection?

• F

  They identify the ways elephants communicate.

• G

  They describe important roles in an elephant herd.

• H

  They tell why elephants need attention.

• J

  They compare ways that elephants find food.

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

• A

  But an elephant’s huge larynx produces very low sounds. (paragraph 3)

• B

  Some gestures—a twitch of an ear, a wag of the head—are so small that most people wouldn’t even notice them. (paragraph 4)

• C

  They think it may help the elephants focus all their attention on the sounds and smells around them. (paragraph 5)

• D

  If you ever wonder what an elephant is paying attention to, don’t watch its eyes. (paragraph 6)

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

• F

  An elephant’s ears help the elephant communicate

• G

  Elephants usually feel either happy or scared.

• H

  A large herd will rarely experience danger.

• J

  Scientists are confused by an elephant’s body language.

The author includes questions at the end of paragraph 6 most likely —

• A

  to show the details scientists want to learn about elephants

• B

  to show that an elephant’s most important sense is the sense of smell

• C

  to show that elephants can identify members in their herd

• D

  to show that elephants gather information from different smells