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Name
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Skill: Reading Comprehension
Read the story and answer the questions.
Elephants
Elephants are the heavyweight champions of land
mammals. They often stand more than ten feet tall and can
weigh up to fifteen thousand pounds. That is taller than the
height of a basketball hoop and heavier than five cars. Even
if elephants were not so big, they would stand out because of
their trunks. The trunk is like a nose, hand and drinking straw
all in one. Since this special nose is about six feet long,
elephants can eat both grass from the ground and leaves from trees. This is important because
elephants need about five hundred pounds of food each day. Their great size and strength
protect them from all predators except one: the human predator. Humans have brought
elephants to the edge of extinction by hunting them for their valuable ivory tusks.
1. What is the main idea of this story? (Circle the answer)
A. Elephants are almost extinct.
B. Elephants are very large mammals.
C. An elephant uses its trunk for survival.
2. Why are elephants almost extinct?
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3. About how long is an elephant’s trunk?
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4. How is an elephant’s trunk used?
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5. How much can an elephant weigh?
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6. Why does the author call elephants “ the heavyweight champions of land mammals?”
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4th Grade Basic Skills: Reading Comprehension and Skills
© Teacher's Friend, a Scholastic Company
5
4th Grade Basic Skills: Reading Comprehension and Skills
© Teacher's Friend, a Scholastic Company
Page 5
because they are so large
up to fifteen thousand pounds
It is used like a nose, hand and drinking straw.
It is about six feet long.
Humans hunted elephants for their valuable ivory
tusks.
Answer Key
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