Amazing Augustus: Life of a Baby Hippo

• newEditor
• English
• Primary Education
• Age 10-12

Amazing Augustus: Life of a Baby Hippo

What does 'shortened grass' mean?

A

grass that grows only in water

B

grass that animals don’t eat

C

grass that has been cut or made shorter

D

grass that is naturally very short

What does 'float' mean?

A

to stay on the surface of water without sinking

B

to run very fast

C

to walk on the bottom of a river

D

to fly in the air

What does 'threats' mean?

A

dangers or possible causes of harm

B

friends and helpers

C

safe places

D

types of food

What does 'habitat' mean?

A

a building where animals are kept

B

the colour of an animal

C

the natural home or environment where an animal or plant lives

D

the food an animal eats

What does 'playful' mean?

A

very slow and lazy

B

always angry

C

liking to play and have fun, full of energy

D

very serious and quiet

What does 'unique' mean?

A

being the only one of its kind, special and different

B

very ordinary and similar to everything else

C

very small

D

very old

What does the word 'yawn' usually mean?

A

to smile widely

B

to open the mouth very wide because you are tired or bored

C

to make a loud sound when happy

D

to open the mouth wide to show teeth

What does the expression 'to show off' usually mean?

A

to hide something

B

to give something to someone

C

to clean something carefully

D

to try to impress others by displaying something you have or can do

What does 'curious' mean?

A

afraid of something new

B

wanting to know or learn more about something

C

angry or aggressive

D

very tired

What does 'peeks above' mean?

A

stays completely under water

B

jumps high

C

swims very fast

D

looks quickly and carefully, usually from a hidden place

Meet Augustus the Hippo

Augustus is a baby Nile hippo who spends a lot of time in the water. He was born at night and weighed 110 pounds at birth.

Growing Big and Strong

Adult hippos can weigh up to 5,500 pounds. To grow so large, hippos like Augustus eat a lot of short grass.

Those Impressive Teeth!

Hippos have strong teeth for eating and showing who is boss. They open their mouths wide to display their teeth as a sign of power.

One of the Biggest Land Animals

Only elephants and rhinos are bigger than hippos on land. Hippos are huge but also playful and have unique personalities.

Special Hippo Features

Hippos' eyes, ears, and nostrils are on top of their heads, letting them see, hear, and breathe while mostly underwater. They don’t float—they walk along riverbeds.

Protecting Hippos and Their Homes

Habitat loss is a big threat to African hippos. To help, learn about what makes hippos unique and teach others to care about them.

What is the name of the baby hippo?

A

Albert

B

Anthony

C

Arthur

D

Augustus

How much does baby Augustus weigh now?

A

500 pounds

B

5,500 pounds

C

110 pounds

D

50 pounds

How heavy can an adult hippo become?

A

up to 1,100 pounds

B

up to 10,000 pounds

C

up to 5,500 pounds

D

up to 500 pounds

When was Augustus born?

A

in the afternoon

B

in the middle of the night

C

we don’t know

D

in the morning

What do hippos eat to get so big?

A

fish and meat

B

fruit

C

shortened grass

D

leaves from trees

When a hippo opens its mouth wide, it is…

A

eating

B

yawning because it’s sleepy

C

showing off its big teeth

D

singing

Which animals are bigger than adult hippos?

A

giraffes and zebras

B

no animals

C

only elephants and rhinos

D

lions and tigers

Why are the eyes, ears, and nostrils on top?

A

to see, hear and breathe underwater

B

to hear music better

C

to scare other animals

D

to look beautiful

Hippos like to…

A

fly

B

walk slowly on the bottom of rivers

C

jump out of water

D

float on the surface like ducks

What is a major danger for hippos in Africa?

A

too many friends

B

habitat loss

C

cold weather

D

too much food