Grazing Giants Short Answer

This passage explains the dietary habits of hippos, which are herbivores that feed mostly on grass. Hippos eat at night and can consume up to 80 pounds of grass in a single night. While they have large teeth, they use them for defense, not eating. The worksheet also discusses how hippos’ eating habits benefit ecosystems by keeping grasslands trimmed and supporting plant growth.

Students enhance their understanding of main idea and supporting details by reading about what hippos eat and why. It introduces and reinforces vocabulary like “herbivore,” “molar,” and “ecosystem,” improving word recognition. The passage helps build comprehension through factual sequencing and cause-effect relationships. It also supports critical thinking as students consider the broader ecological role of an animal’s diet.