IV. Read the passage and then answer the questions following.
The Hippopotamus

The hippopotamus 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 7 meters long, but the
hippopotamus eats only plants. It is a mammal but it spends a lot of time in water.
During the day it sleeps beside a river of 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 under water 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.
Questions
A. Complete the following sentences, using the words given.
stomach stay beside mammal
breath lake plants spends
above alive large high
1. The hippopotamus is a ____________________ animal.
2. During the day it sleeps __________________ river or a _________.
3. It is a _______________.
4. Its __________________ is 7 meters long, but the hippopotamus eats only _________.
5. It can close its nose and ______________ under water for 10 minutes.
6. It can stay with its body under the water and only its ears, eyes, and nose _________________ the
water.
7. Then it can ______________________ the air.
8. It is a mammal, but it _______________ a lot of time in the water.
9. Its eyes, ears, and nose are ___________________ up on its head.
B. Answer the questions.
10. Where does the hippopotamus live?

11. How long is a hippo’s stomach?

12. Does a hippo eat meat?

13. Why does a hippo go under water?

14. How can it stay under water for 10 minutes?

15. What does it do at night?