PLEASE HELP
An elephant lumbers across African grassland as
dust rises up from each of her steps. She finds a
giant tree and works to pierce its thick bark with
her tusks. She is prying and poking to get at
the water the tree often stores inside. This is no
ordinary tree but a baobab, a tree that looms large
in size and importance for both the animals and
people of Africa.
2 The baobab’s astonishing appearance alone proves
it is special. It can grow up to 60 feet high and
30 feet wide, soaring above most other life in the
dry savannah. The baobab has a wide barrel-like
trunk topped with shorter, twisted branches. It
only grows leaves for two short periods, giving the
branches the appearance of gnarled roots for most
of the year. In fact, some African legends say that
a god, angry at the baobab, decided to uproot and
replant it upside down.
3 This remarkable tree survives dry conditions and
is found in many regions of Africa. Its roots spread
out up to a hundred feet away to gather needed
water. The adaptable sponge-like bark contracts in
dry months and expands in wet ones. Baobab trees
serve as a source of water, food, and a safe home
for a variety of animals. In particular, the whitebacked vulture, with a wingspan of about seven
feet, nests high in the baobab’s branches. The great
bird only nests once a year, laying just one egg. The
tall, strong baobab provides the ideal site for several
months of safety for the mother and baby vulture.
4 For centuries, the baobab has also been
essential to the people in various parts of Africa,
many of whom call it the “Tree of Life.” The
baobab’s immense trunk is hollow, creating a
large circular chamber at the center. Baobab
chambers have been used as shelters, prisons,
and animal stables. The tree’s spinach-like
leaves can be eaten, and people use them for
both food and medicine. The fruit provides
a citrus-like refreshment. People strip off the
fibrous bark to make rope, cloth, roofing, and
paper. Unlike most other trees, the baobab can
endure this practice, regenerating its bark and
continuing to grow.
5 Perhaps this is one reason baobabs have such
incredible longevity. Some have even been
known to live for over 2,000 years! These
amazing survivors continue to provide valuable
resources across 32 countries in Africa.
What idea(s) from the passage do the
elephant’s actions in paragraph 1 help
support? Check all that apply.
A-The baobab absorbs water.
B-The baobab provides a safe place to stay.
C-The baobab gives life to animals.
d- The baobab trunk is used for shelter.
e- The baobab lives for thousands of years.