The Hippopotamus

10/10/2020 5:18:00 PM
Rare Pink Hippo Found in Kenya. Image: nationalgeographic.com

Do you know?

  • Female hippos, called cows, give birth every two years, usually to a single calf. 
  • In the wild hippos live for around 40 years. In captivity, they tend to live longer and may reach up to 50 years old.

Let's explore more about the hippo in the following passage!

FACT: Despite their heavy body, hippos can run at very fast speeds of 32 mph.

The hippo. Image: kidadl.com

Listen and choose the correct answer.

  • Where does the hippo live? 
  • How much does the hippo weigh?

Where does the hippo live?

  • In South Asia.
  • In Europe.
  • In Africa.

How much does the hippo weigh?

  • Four tons
  • Five tons
  • Ten tons

Complete the text you are listening to by dragging the correct word to each blank.

   The hippopotamus, or , lives in the hot part of Africa. It is a mammal. That is, its babies are born alive, and they drink milk from the mother's body. 

   The hippopotamus is a large animal. It weighs four tons. Its stomach is seven meters long, and it eats only plants. It is a mammal, but it a lot of time in the water. 

   During the day, it sleeps a river or a . Sometimes it wakes up. Then it goes under the water to get some plants for food. It can close its nose and stay underwater for ten minutes. Its ears, eyes, and nose are high up on its head. It can stay with its body under the water and only its ears, eyes, and nose above the water. Then it can breathe the air. 

   At night, the hippo walks on the land and food. It never goes very far from the water. 

  A baby hippo often stands on its mother's back. The mother looks for food underwater. The baby rides on her back above the water. 

Read the passage and answer the questions.

The baby hippo. Image: bbc.com

   The hippopotamus, or hippo, lives in the hot part of Africa. It is a mammal. That is, its babies are born alive, and they drink milk from the mother's body. 

   The hippopotamus is a large animal. It weighs four tons. Its stomach is seven meters long, and it eats only plants. It is a mammal, but it spends a lot of time in the water. 

   During the day, it sleeps beside a river or a lake. Sometimes it wakes up. Then it goes under the water to get some plants for food. It can close its nose and stay underwater for ten minutes. Its ears, eyes, and nose are high up on its head. It can stay with its body under the water and only its ears, eyes, and nose above the water. Then it can breathe the air. 

   At night, the hippo walks on the land and looks for food. It never goes very far from the water. 

  A baby hippo often stands on its mother's back. The mother looks for food underwater. The baby rides on her back above the water. 

According to the passage, which of the following statements is NOT true about the hippo?

  • The hippo can stay under water for ten minutes.
  • The hippo eats meat.
  • The hippo goes under water to look for food.
  • The hippo has milk for its babies.

Which of the following best describes the author's tone? 

  • sensitive
  • emotional
  • informative
  • regretful

Put the right word in each blank. The sentences are from the text.

  1. During the day, the hippo sleeps a river or a .
  2. The is a mammal, but it a lot of time in the water. 
  3. At night, the hippo walks on the land and food.

 

Put the right word in each blank. These are new sentences for words in the text. 

  1. The simply kept his mouth open waiting to be fed.
  2. These plants are found in freshwater and rivers.
  3. Our school was built right a river.
  4. I an hour at the station waiting for the train.
  5. He found some slices of bread while food.