M3/6 TOEFL Reading

The topic of this passage is

• the largest land animals

• the derivations of animal names

• the characteristics of the hippo

• the relation between the hippo and the whale

It can be inferred from the passage that the rhinoceros is

• smaller than the hippo

• equal in size to the elephant

• a hybrid of the hippo and the elephant

• one of the two largest types of land animals

The possessive "Its" in line 1 refers to

• hippopotamus

• elephant

• rhinoceros

• horse

It can be inferred from the passage that the hippopotamus is commonly called a hippo because the word "hippo" is

• simpler to pronounce

• scientifically more accurate

• the original name

• easier for the animal to recognize

The word "float" in line 4 is closest in meaning to

• sink

• drift

• eat

• flap

According to the passage, what is the maximum time that hippos have been known to stay underwater?

• Three minutes

• Five minutes

• Thirty minutes

• Ninety minutes

The expression "has relatively little in common" in line 7 could best be replaced by

• has few interactions

• is not normally found

• has minimal experience

• shares few similarities

The passage states that one way in which a hippo is similar to a whale is that

• they both live on the bottoms of rivers

• they both have blowholes

• they are both named after horses

• they both breathe underwater

The word "blubber" in line 10 is closest in meaning to

• fat

• metal

• water

• skin

The passage states that the hippo does not

• like water

• resemble the whale

• have a protective coating

• have much hair