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.

9. Renowned paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey is known for uncovering many fossils of early humans. He left school at the age of 16 to start a business doing what?
A. Leading safaris
B. Hunting fossils
C. Printing newspaper
D. Making movies

A. Leading safaris
TOPICS: He left school at the age of 16 to start a business leading safaris to photograph wild African animals. He led his first fossil-hunting expedition in 1967 at the age of 19.

10. The hippopotamus is semiaquatic. Which is NOT a trait of the hippo?
A. Before they can walk hippopotamuses can swim
B. Capable of remaining underwater for as long as 25 minutes
C. Often swims nearly 20 miles in search food
D. Sleeps underwater

D. Sleeps underwater
TOPICS: The hippopotamus is semiaquatic, spending most of the day with only its eyes, ears, and nostrils above the surface of a river, and it is capable of remaining underwater for as long as 25 minutes, though it usually does so only for 3-5 minutes at a time. During the day it feeds on aquatic vegetation and often swims more than 19 miles in search of food, emerging at night to feed on land plants.

11. The tallest of all animals, the giraffe has an extremely long and muscular neck. Most mammals have seven neck vertebrae. How many does the giraffe have?
A. 3
B. 7
C. 17
D. 27

B. 7
TOPICS: The giraffe, like most mammals, has only seven neck vertebrae, which are greatly elongated to support its extremely long and muscular neck. Due to the great distance between the animal's heart and head, its vascular system is equipped with valves so that sufficient blood reaches the brain.

12. Even small herds of a few elephants can quickly deplete the food and water resources of an area, forcing them to keep on the move. A herd of elephants migrates seasonally in an extended loop, looking for fresh resources. How far do they migrate?
A. Over 3100 miles
B. Average about 300 miles
C. Never more than 30 miles
D. 3 miles

A. Over 3100 miles
TOPICS: Within its home range, which can extend over 600 square miles, an elephant can travel 3100 to 6200 miles in one year, the longest mammal migration on record.

13. What peculiar trait is the basenji commonly known for?
A. It is an albino antelope
B. It is a barkless dog
C. It is a hairless dog
D. It is a tuskless elephant

B. It is a barkless dog
TOPICS: Basenji, breed of the domestic dog belonging to the hound group, also called the African barkless dog. Long known, the breed is clearly shown in ancient Egyptian works of art. Although it is barkless, it is not completely mute. Characteristics of the breed are upright ears; wrinkled forehead; moderately long legs; short, fine, lustrous hair; a tightly curled tail; and small size.

14. Female lions belong to prides. What do male lions join?
A. Nothing, they are always alone as adults
B. Male Prides
C. Coalitions
D. Fraternities

C. Coalitions
TOPICS: Unlike females, male cubs are driven from the pride when they are between two and four years old. If they are lucky, they leave with brothers and cousins; if not, they team up with unrelated males. These groups of two to six males are called coalitions. The goal of a coalition is to join a pride of females to mate and have young. This usually involves chasing off the coalition currently in residence with a pride, although resident males do not leave willingly. Bloody combat may take place, with the larger of the competing coalitions generally winning the pride.

15. Gorillas are the largest primates. Can you pick out the true gorilla fact?
A. Fights between gorillas are frequent
B. Gorillas build a new sleeping nest about once a month
C. Gorilla young develop physical skills almost as fast as human babies
D. Gorillas produce 15 recognizable sounds that have specific meanings

D. Gorillas produce 15 recognizable sounds that have specific meanings
TOPICS: Fights between gorillas are rare and are usually resolved through threatening gestures; Gorillas build a new sleeping nest every night; Gorilla young develop physical skills twice as fast as human babies; and Gorillas produce 15 recognizable sounds that have specific meanings.

16. The giraffe rarely does this%u2026
A. Drink
B. Run
C. Sleep
D. Mate

A. Drink
TOPICS: A giraffe ranges widely and sometimes is found hundreds of kilometers from water. A giraffe can go for more than a month without drinking, and the few times it does drink, the animal must spread the long forelegs widely to reach the water.

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