1. Where are lions still found in the wild? A. Africa south of the Sahara Desert B. Northwest India C. Both A and B D. The zoo
C. Both A and B TOPICS: Today, lions are found in the wild in only two places on earth. About 100,000 lions survive in Africa south of the Sahara Desert. Another 300 lions, called Asian lions, live in a reserve called the Gîr National Park and Lion Sanctuary in northwest India.
2. Elephants are the largest land animals and among the longest-lived. How long does the average elephant live? A. 100 years B. 60 years C. 40 years D. 20 years
B. 60 years TOPICS: Highly intelligent and strong, elephants are the largest land animals and are among the longest-lived, with life spans of 60 years or more. Healthy, full-grown elephants have no natural enemies other than humans.
3. Apes are highly intelligent primates. How many species of ape are there? A. 2 B. 13 C. 202 D. 313
B. 13 TOPICS: An ape is any of 13 species including chimpanzees, gorillas, gibbons, and orangutans. Apes are sometimes confused with monkeys, but unlike their smaller primate counterparts, apes do not have tails and their arms are usually longer than their legs. Apes live in tropical woodlands and forests of Africa and Asia.
4. Hippopotamuses are often called river horses for what trait? A. They are horses that only graze with a river in sight B. They are horses who choose to spend most days in water C. They can breathe underwater thanks to the gills behind their ears D. Their noses have special flaps that close when they go underwater
D. Their noses have special flaps that close when they go underwater TOPICS: Hippopotamuses actually resemble pigs more than horses. They have large heads with small eyes and small ears; their nostrils, surrounded by sparse, bristly hairs, are equipped with special flaps that close down when the animal goes underwater.
5. Great apes have well-developed brains and are among the most intelligent of all animals. What trait do they demonstrate that we thought only humans possess? A. Creating Haiku poetry B. Making alcoholic beverages C. Space travel D. Making tools
D. Making tools TOPICS: In the wild, chimpanzees and orangutans are known to make simple tools, such as sharpened sticks used to extract insects from holes in tree trunks. Toolmaking involves a preconceived image of what the tool will look like, a visualization ability that is only possible with an advanced brain. Orangutans have even been observed untying knots, working out for themselves the steps necessary to achieve this complex task.
6. Which Zebra trait is NOT true? A. Zebras can recognize other zebras by the pattern of stripes on their bodies B. Mountain zebras take a dust bath almost every day C. Grevy's zebra and the mountain zebra are endangered due to illegal hunting and habitat destruction D. Larger than a horse
D. Larger than a horse TOPICS: Zebra, striped mammal native to Africa, smaller in size than the related horse and greatly resembling the wild ass in habit and form, having a short, erect mane, large ears, and a tufted tail. The stripes, which distinguish this animal from other members of the horse family, serve as protective coloration in its natural habitat.
7. Despite their immense strength, lions do not have an easy life in the wild. They suffer from parasites and disease, they get injured or even killed while hunting or fighting with each other, and they may starve when food is scarce. How many cubs die before they are 1 year old? A. One-quarter B. Two-thirds C. Half D. Nearly all
B. Two-thirds TOPICS: About two-thirds of all cubs die before they are 1 year old. Adult males are usually old and battered by age 10, if they survive that long, and they rarely live longer than 12 years. Females may live longer, up to 16 years, and some are still breeding at 15. In zoos, where they receive veterinary care and plenty of food—and are not allowed to fight—lions can live as long as 25 years.
8. Fossils of elephant ancestors indicate they once lived on what continents? A. Only Africa and Asia B. Australia and Antarctica C. All except Australia and Antarctica D. Europe and the Americas
C. All except Australia and Antarctica TOPICS: Fossils of elephant ancestors indicate they once lived on every continent except Australia and Antarctica, but elephant habitat today is restricted to Africa and parts of Southeast Asia. Elephants occupy an array of environments in Africa and Southeast Asia—grasslands, marshes, forests, deserts, and mountains. They are herbivores, or plant eaters, and need great quantities of food to sustain their massive size. They also need a lot of drinking water and so are restricted to areas with ample vegetation and adequate water.
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