It is hard for some people to believe that manatees are a distant relative of elephants. After all, manatees live underwater and have flipper-like feet. However, many scientists believe that manatees evolved from four-legged land mammals over 60 million years ago. Manatees, like elephants, are pretty big—an adult weighs about two tons! The biggest similarity is the manatee’s large, flexible, upper lip, which acts like a shortened trunk. Manatees use their lips—or “trunks”—to gather food, eat, and interact with other manatees.

Question

It is hard for some people to believe that manatees are a distant relative of elephants. After all, manatees live underwater and have flipper-like feet. However, many scientists believe that manatees evolved from four-legged land mammals over 60 million years ago. Manatees, like elephants, are pretty big—an adult weighs about two tons! The biggest similarity is the manatee’s large, flexible, upper lip, which acts like a shortened trunk. Manatees use their lips—or “trunks”—to gather food, eat, and interact with other manatees.
2
Based on this passage, it is clear that the author wants the readers to
A
study the eating habits of adult manatees.
B
consider how manatees are similar to elephants.
C
avoid manatees when deep sea diving.
D
keep manatees off the endangered species list.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

Based on the passage, it is clear that the author wants the readers to B) consider how manatees are similar to elephants. The passage emphasizes the evolutionary connection between manatees and elephants, highlighting their size and the similarity of their features, such as the flexible upper lip acting like a trunk.