Reading Sample Questions
Text: Do Animals Have Friends?
We have known for a long time that animals have friends. Many animals show behaviours that suggest close bonds with family members, mates, and special companions. Male dolphins who use sponges to find food often make friends with other dolphins using the same method. Elephants have special greetings for familiar companions, showing that they recognize individuals. Why is friendship in the animal world important? One reason friendship among animals is so important is for emotional and physical support. Among chimpanzees, the act of grooming or cleaning one another’s hair is a very important social activity. Grooming is known to reduce stress and anxiety and to make chimpanzees feel safer and calmer around each other. Chimpanzees that groom each other often develop close friendships, and they support each other with resources and even help each other during fights. Chimpanzees that have fewer allies face social isolation, which can be devastating in chimpanzee society. Another important point is that animals with strong friendships often live longer and have greater success raising their young. For example, killer whales that form close groups are more likely to survive during hard times, such as when food is limited. Hyenas with more friends often rise higher within their groups and are guaranteed better, more consistent access to food and protection. Some animals even show a willingness to make sacrifices for their closest companions. Among chimpanzees, if a mother dies, a close female friend may adopt the orphan. Taking care of another’s young is a big responsibility and limits the adopter’s freedom, but it helps secure the young animal’s future. Bats share food with hungry companions, even if it means having less for themselves. This kind of behaviour goes very much against the conventional wisdom regarding animal instincts. Interestingly, friendship is not always limited to animals of the same species. In the wild, buffaloes and birds make friends. In zoos, unusual friendships have developed between animals that would never meet in the wild. For instance, orangutans have formed bonds with otters, and lions raised alongside dogs often stay companions for life. One reason animals might develop these cross-species friendships is for mutual benefit they might gain protection, companionship, or help finding food. Humans feel deep emotional connections with their pets. Humans can be very close to dogs and cats, or sometimes to other animals like birds, horses, and even chickens. Humanpet relationships often form through trust, care, and daily interaction. Pets like dogs and cats rely on humans for food, safety, and affection. In return, they offer companionship and even emotional support. But the fact that animals show love for and recognition of their human companions and not just people who feed them suggests that the bond goes deeper than mutual benefits. Although friendship has been best studied in elephants, dolphins, and primates, experts believe it could exist across many species. Some animals simply have not been observed closely enough to understand their full social lives. Animals have friends, which helps them live longer and feel less alone.
Questions
1. Based on the text, is the following statement TRUE, FALSE OR NOT GIVEN? We learned
that animals could be friends a long time ago.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
C) NOT GIVEN
2. Based on the text, is the following statement TRUE, FALSE OR NOT GIVEN? The writer
says that only people with dogs or cats can be friends with their pets.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
C) NOT GIVEN
3. What is common among male dolphins that use sponges to catch food?
A) They stay far away from the group.
B) They become close with others using the same technique.
C) They copy each other’s behavior.
D) They teach each other how to do it.
4. What impact does grooming have on chimpanzees’ emotional state?
A) It makes them more nervous in social situations.
B) It helps them feel more at ease in social situations.
C) It increases their excitement in certain situations.
D) It eliminates the possibility that they will engage in fights.
5. What claim is made about some interspecies animal friendships in zoos?
A) They tend to dissolve once the animals are reintroduced to their habitats
B) They exclusively take place between animals from the same ecosystem.
C) They have been documented between animals from vastly different environments.
D) They only tend to happen between very closely related species.
6. Why do experts believe that friendship might be found in a broader range of species?
A) Because some animals have yet to be studied carefully.
B) Because our understanding of animal social structure is extremely limited.
C) Because numerous animal species are more similar to primates than previously thought.
D) Because insights into elephant behavior constantly emerge.
7. What is one possible outcome for a chimpanzee without strong social ties?
A) It may require extra attention.
B) It is eventually brought back into the group.
C) It becomes leader of a smaller group.
D) It may be ignored or excluded by its group.
8. What does the writer mean about the behavior going against conventional wisdom?
A) Scientists know that animal behavior is completely dependent on their species.
B) It is well known that animals often care for others in their communities.
C) The prevailing belief is that animals are only driven by survival and self-interest.
D) Animal instincts are not important in scientific research.
9. What is likely true about hyenas with fewer social connections?
A) They usually leave their group to find a new one.
B) They may lead less comfortable and more vulnerable lives.
C) They are more aggressive and often take on leadership roles.
D) They refuse to sacrifice for other hyenas.
10. What does the article suggest about the feelings animals show toward humans?
A) They tend to act more friendly when they are hungry.
B) They try to copy human behavior.
C) They have trained themselves to care about humans.
D) The emotions they show humans are genuine.
11. The word SHOW in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to:
A) present
B) teach
C) inform
D) prove
12. The word POINT in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to:
A) opinion
B) fact
C) quality
D) reason
13. The word STRONG in paragraph 3 is closest in meaning to:
A) powerful
B) fit
C) close
D) healthy
14. Complete the sentence with a word from paragraph 3: Scientists have noticed that
animals who are closer and have better relationships typically have more success getting
through __________ periods.
Insert a word above
15. Based on the text, is the following statement TRUE, FALSE OR NOT GIVEN? A reason
given for animal friendships across species is that both parties gain an advantage from
the friendship.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
C) NOT GIVEN
16. Complete the sentence with a word from paragraph 6 : Having friends helps animals
be safe and have _______ lives.
Insert a word above
Answers
that animals could be friends a long time ago.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
C) NOT GIVEN
Answer: TRUE
2. Based on the text, is the following statement TRUE, FALSE OR NOT GIVEN? The writer
says that only people with dogs or cats can be friends with their pets.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
C) NOT GIVEN
Answer: FALSE
3. What is common among male dolphins that use sponges to catch food?
A) They stay far away from the group.
B) They become close with others using the same technique.
C) They copy each other’s behavior.
D) They teach each other how to do it.
Answer: B
4. What impact does grooming have on chimpanzees� emotional state?
A) It makes them more nervous in social situations.
B) It helps them feel more at ease in social situations.
C) It increases their excitement in certain situations.
D) It eliminates the possibility that they will engage in fights.
Answer: B
5. What claim is made about some interspecies animal friendships in zoos?
A) They tend to dissolve once the animals are reintroduced to their habitats
B) They exclusively take place between animals from the same ecosystem.
C) They have been documented between animals from vastly different environments.
D) They only tend to happen between very closely related species.
Answer: C
6. Why do experts believe that friendship might be found in a broader range of species?
A) Because some animals have yet to be studied carefully.
B) Because our understanding of animal social structure is extemely limited.
C) Because numerous animal species are more similar to primates than previously thought.
D) Because insights into elephant behavior constantly emerge.
Answer: A
