Elephants

Elephants written by Keira Freed

《大象》，作者：凯拉·弗里德

The Largest Land Animal Did you know that elephants are the largest land animals in the world? I saw an amazing picture of a mother elephant with her baby. I wanted to learn more about elephants, so I checked out a book from the library. I learned many unusual facts about elephants that I can share with you.

陆地上最大的动物 你知道大象是世界上最大的陆地动物吗？ 我见过一张超棒的照片，拍的是大象妈妈和她的宝宝。 我想了解更多大象的知识，所以从图书馆借了一本书。 我学到了好多关于大象的冷知识，现在可以分享给你哦。

Elephant bodies. If you've ever seen an elephant in a zoo, you know they are huge. An adult male can weigh as much as six cars. I definitely don't want an elephant to sit on me. Elephants have heavy gray bodies, thick legs, wrinkled skin, and floppy ears. Many elephants also have a pair of tusks, which are long pointed teeth. Elephants use their tusks to peel the bark off trees and to dig for minerals.

大象的身体。如果你在动物园见过大象，就知道它们个头特别大。 一头成年公象的体重能抵得上六辆小汽车。我可绝对不想被大象坐在屁股底下。 大象有着沉甸甸的灰色身体、粗壮的腿、皱巴巴的皮肤，还有耷拉着的大耳朵。 很多大象还有一对象牙，就是它们长长的尖牙齿。 大象会用象牙剥树皮，还会用它挖土里的矿物质。

One really interesting part of an elephant is its long trunk. An elephant's trunk is its nose and upper lip joined together into a special shape. An elephant can use its trunk like a hand to pick up food or other objects. The trunk works like a hose when an elephant drinks water or gives itself a shower. A trunk can even work like a snorkel, helping an elephant breathe underwater.

大象身上最有意思的部位就是它的长鼻子啦。 大象的鼻子是它的鼻子和上唇长在一起，变成了一个特别的形状。 大象可以把鼻子当手用，捡起食物或者别的东西。 大象喝水或者给自己冲澡的时候，鼻子就像一根水管。 鼻子甚至还能当呼吸管，帮大象在水下呼吸哦。

I read about two kinds of elephants. One kind lives in Africa, and the other kind lives in Asia. Here's what I learned about their differences.

我了解到大象一共有两种。 一种生活在非洲，另一种生活在亚洲。 下面就是我查到的它们之间的区别哦。

Elephant families. Elephants live in families of four to ten females and they're young. The females, called cows, are all relatives. Grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, and daughters. A wise old female called the matriarch is the leader of the family. She helps her family find food and water. She also keeps the family together and helps everyone stay safe.

大象的家族。 大象的家族由4到10头母象和它们的幼崽组成。 这些母象都是亲戚。 外婆、妈妈、姨妈、姐妹，还有女儿。 一位聪明的年长母象是家族的首领，叫做女族长。 她会带领家族寻找食物和水。 她还要维护家族团结，帮大家保证安全。