🌱A1 · Beginner 🌿A2 · Elementary 🌳B1 · Pre-Intermediate 🌲B2 · Intermediate
🐘
Day 2 · Nature & Wildlife · B2 Level

The Amazing Abilities of Elephants

Daily Reading Practice · Nonfiction passage

⏱ Time target: 5-6 minutes 📖 Reading + Vocabulary ✅ 10 True / False questions
How to use this page: Highlighted words are key vocabulary. On a computer, hover your mouse over a highlighted word — on phone or tablet, tap the word — to see its English definition, a synonym, and its Uzbek 🇺🇿 and Russian 🇷🇺 meaning. Tap 🇬🇧 UK or 🇺🇸 US to hear it pronounced in either accent.
🔎 Millat Dictionary

Curious about a word?

Any word, any time — right from this page.

Reading Passage

Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, and they are admiredadmire (verb)Regarded with respect and approval.≈ Synonym: respected🇺🇿UZ: hayratlanmoq, qadrlamoq🇷🇺RU: восхищаться not only for their size but also for their remarkableremarkable (adj)Worthy of attention; extraordinary.≈ Synonym: extraordinary🇺🇿UZ: ajoyib, e'tiborga molik🇷🇺RU: выдающийся, замечательный intelligenceintelligence (noun)The ability to learn, understand, and think.≈ Synonym: cleverness🇺🇿UZ: aql, idrok🇷🇺RU: интеллект, ум. These gentle giantsgiant (noun)A very large person, animal or thing.🇺🇿UZ: ulkan, gigant🇷🇺RU: великан, гигант are found mainly in Africa and Asia and are known for their strong family bondsbond (noun)Close connections or relationships.≈ Synonym: ties🇺🇿UZ: rishta, bog'liqlik🇷🇺RU: узы, связь and complexcomplex (adj)Made up of many interconnected parts.≈ Synonym: intricate🇺🇿UZ: murakkab🇷🇺RU: сложный social behaviourbehaviour (noun)The way a person or animal acts.≈ Synonym: conduct🇺🇿UZ: xulq-atvor🇷🇺RU: поведение. In the wild, elephants live in groups led by the oldest femalefemale (noun)A woman or a female animal.🇺🇿UZ: urg'ochi; ayol🇷🇺RU: самка; женщина, called the matriarchmatriarch (noun)The female head of a family or group.≈ Synonym: female leader🇺🇿UZ: oila boshlig'i (ayol)🇷🇺RU: матриарх, глава семьи. They support and protect one another, showing clear signs of care and cooperationcooperation (noun)The act of working together toward a goal.≈ Synonym: collaboration🇺🇿UZ: hamkorlik🇷🇺RU: сотрудничество.

One of the most surprisingsurprising (adj)Causing a feeling of mild astonishment.≈ Synonym: unexpected🇺🇿UZ: hayratlanarli🇷🇺RU: удивительный things about elephants is their excellent memorymemory (noun)The ability to store and recall information.≈ Synonym: recall🇺🇿UZ: xotira🇷🇺RU: память. The sayingsaying (noun)Words that people often say because they contain a truth.≈ Synonym: proverb🇺🇿UZ: maqol, naql🇷🇺RU: поговорка "an elephant never forgets" may not be far from the truth. Elephants can remember the locationslocation (noun)Particular places or positions.≈ Synonym: places🇺🇿UZ: joy, joylashuv🇷🇺RU: местоположение of waterholeswaterhole (noun)Natural pools of water where animals drink.≈ Synonym: watering holes🇺🇿UZ: sug'orish joyi, hovuz🇷🇺RU: водопой and safe paths even after many years. This ability is essentialessential (adj)Absolutely necessary.≈ Synonym: vital🇺🇿UZ: zarur, juda muhim🇷🇺RU: необходимый during dry seasons when finding water can mean the difference between life and death. Studies have shown that older elephants lead their groups to water in times of droughtdrought (noun)A long period of little or no rainfall.≈ Synonym: dry spell🇺🇿UZ: qurg'oqchilik🇷🇺RU: засуха, relyingrely on (phrasal verb)Depending on something with trust.≈ Synonym: depending on🇺🇿UZ: tayanmoq, ishonmoq🇷🇺RU: полагаться на on their memory of distant places visited long ago.

Elephants also use toolstool (noun)Objects used to help perform a task.≈ Synonym: implements🇺🇿UZ: asbob, qurol🇷🇺RU: инструмент in their daily lives. They may break off branchesbranch (noun)The parts of a tree that grow out from the trunk.≈ Synonym: bough🇺🇿UZ: shox, novda🇷🇺RU: ветка to use as fly swattersfly swatter (noun)Objects used to hit and kill flying insects.≈ Synonym: swatters🇺🇿UZ: pashshaqoqar🇷🇺RU: мухобойка or digdig (verb)To break up and move earth or ground.≈ Synonym: excavate🇺🇿UZ: kovlamoq🇷🇺RU: копать holes to access undergroundunderground (adj)Situated below the surface of the ground.≈ Synonym: subterranean🇺🇿UZ: yer osti🇷🇺RU: подземный water. Their trunkstrunk (noun)The long noses of elephants.≈ Synonym: proboscises🇺🇿UZ: xartum (filniki)🇷🇺RU: хобот, with over 40,000 musclesmuscle (noun)Body tissues that produce movement.≈ Synonym: sinews🇺🇿UZ: mushak🇷🇺RU: мышца, are incredibly strong and flexibleflexible (adj)Able to bend or move easily.≈ Synonym: supple🇺🇿UZ: moslashuvchan🇷🇺RU: гибкий, allowing them to pick up tiny objects or lift heavy branches. Elephants communicatecommunicate (verb)To share information or feelings with others.≈ Synonym: interact🇺🇿UZ: muloqot qilmoq🇷🇺RU: общаться using a range of sounds, including deep rumblesrumble (noun)Continuous deep, heavy sounds.≈ Synonym: low growls🇺🇿UZ: gumburlash, past gulduros🇷🇺RU: грохот, гул that can travel long distances. These low-frequencylow-frequency (adj)Having a low rate of sound vibration, often hard to hear.≈ Synonym: deep-pitched🇺🇿UZ: past chastotali🇷🇺RU: низкочастотный sounds help members of a group stay in contact, even when they are far apart.

Sadly, elephants face serious threatsthreat (noun)Things likely to cause harm or danger.≈ Synonym: dangers🇺🇿UZ: xavf, tahdid🇷🇺RU: угроза today. Poachingpoaching (noun)The illegal hunting or killing of animals.≈ Synonym: illegal hunting🇺🇿UZ: brakonyerlik🇷🇺RU: браконьерство for ivoryivory (noun)The hard white material of elephant tusks.≈ Synonym: tusk material🇺🇿UZ: fil suyagi🇷🇺RU: слоновая кость has greatly reducedreduce (verb)Made smaller in size, amount, or degree.≈ Synonym: decreased🇺🇿UZ: kamaytirmoq🇷🇺RU: сокращать, уменьшать their numbers, especially in Africa. Habitathabitat (noun)The natural environment where an animal lives.≈ Synonym: natural home🇺🇿UZ: yashash joyi🇷🇺RU: среда обитания loss due to farming and developmentdevelopment (noun)The process of land being built up or expanded.≈ Synonym: construction🇺🇿UZ: qurilish, o'zlashtirish🇷🇺RU: застройка, развитие also puts elephants in danger, as they lose the space they need to live and find food. Fortunately, many conservationconservation (noun)The protection of nature and wildlife.≈ Synonym: preservation🇺🇿UZ: tabiatni muhofaza qilish🇷🇺RU: охрана природы groups are working to protect elephants by fighting illegalillegal (adj)Against the law.≈ Synonym: unlawful🇺🇿UZ: noqonuniy🇷🇺RU: незаконный hunting, creating safe areas for them, and teaching people about the importance of saving these magnificentmagnificent (adj)Extremely beautiful or impressive.≈ Synonym: splendid🇺🇿UZ: muhtasham, ajoyib🇷🇺RU: великолепный animals.

Elephants remind us of the intelligence, kindnesskindness (noun)The quality of being friendly and caring.≈ Synonym: generosity🇺🇿UZ: mehribonlik🇷🇺RU: доброта, and strength that can be found in the natural world. They are truly one of the most amazing creaturescreature (noun)Living beings, especially animals.≈ Synonym: animals🇺🇿UZ: jonzot, mavjudot🇷🇺RU: существо on our planet.

✍ Summarize the Story

In your own words, write a short summary of what you just read (90–120+ words). Don't copy sentences — explain the main ideas.

0 words
AI Ustoz is reading your summary…
What you did well
    What to improve

      Check Your Understanding — True / False

      Word List — 40 words

      📥 Download PDF

      Every highlighted word from this story with its meaning in Uzbek 🇺🇿 and Russian 🇷🇺, and an example. Tap 🇬🇧 or 🇺🇸 to hear the word or the sentence in a British or American accent.

      #🇬🇧🇺🇿🇷🇺Example
      1
      admireverb
      hayratlanmoq, qadrlamoqвосхищатьсяI really admire people who can speak five languages.
      2
      remarkableadjective
      ajoyib, e'tiborga molikвыдающийся, замечательныйShe made remarkable progress in just six months.
      3
      intelligencenoun
      aql, idrokинтеллект, умDolphins are famous for their intelligence.
      4
      giantnoun
      ulkan, gigantвеликан, гигантElephants are often called gentle giants.
      5
      bondnoun
      rishta, bog'liqlikузы, связьThere is a strong bond between the two sisters.
      6
      complexadjective
      murakkabсложныйThe rules of this game are too complex for children.
      7
      behaviournoun
      xulq-atvorповедениеHis behaviour in class has improved a lot.
      8
      femalenoun
      urg'ochi; ayolсамка; женщинаIn lions, the females do most of the hunting.
      9
      matriarchnoun
      oila boshlig'i (ayol)матриарх, глава семьиMy grandmother is the matriarch of our big family.
      10
      cooperationnoun
      hamkorlikсотрудничествоThe bridge was built with the cooperation of two countries.
      11
      surprisingadjective
      hayratlanarliудивительныйIt's surprising how quickly children learn new words.
      12
      memorynoun
      xotiraпамятьMy grandfather has an excellent memory for names.
      13
      sayingnoun
      maqol, naqlпоговоркаThere's an old saying: 'Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.'
      14
      locationnoun
      joy, joylashuvместоположениеThe hotel is in a great location, near the old city.
      15
      waterholenoun
      sug'orish joyi, hovuzводопойIn the dry season, animals gather around the last waterhole.
      16
      essentialadjective
      zarur, juda muhimнеобходимыйA good dictionary is essential for language learners.
      17
      droughtnoun
      qurg'oqchilikзасухаThe drought destroyed most of the wheat harvest.
      18
      rely onphrasal verb
      tayanmoq, ishonmoqполагаться наYou can't rely on the weather forecast in spring.
      19
      toolnoun
      asbob, qurolинструментA dictionary app is a useful tool for students.
      20
      branchnoun
      shox, novdaветкаA bird was sitting on a branch outside my window.
      21
      fly swatternoun
      pashshaqoqarмухобойкаMy grandmother always keeps a fly swatter in the kitchen in summer.
      22
      digverb
      kovlamoqкопатьThe children love to dig in the sand.
      23
      undergroundadjective
      yer ostiподземныйTashkent has an underground railway with beautiful stations.
      24
      trunknoun
      xartum (filniki)хоботThe elephant picked up the apple with its trunk.
      25
      musclenoun
      mushakмышцаSwimming works almost every muscle in your body.
      26
      flexibleadjective
      moslashuvchanгибкийMy working hours are quite flexible.
      27
      communicateverb
      muloqot qilmoqобщатьсяBees communicate by dancing.
      28
      rumblenoun
      gumburlash, past guldurosгрохот, гулWe heard the rumble of thunder in the distance.
      29
      low-frequencyadjective
      past chastotaliнизкочастотныйSome animals can hear low-frequency sounds that humans cannot.
      30
      threatnoun
      xavf, tahdidугрозаClimate change is a serious threat to farming.
      31
      poachingnoun
      brakonyerlikбраконьерствоPoaching has put many wild animals in danger.
      32
      ivorynoun
      fil suyagiслоновая костьSelling ivory is now illegal in most countries.
      33
      reduceverb
      kamaytirmoqсокращать, уменьшатьCycling to work reduced my stress a lot.
      34
      habitatnoun
      yashash joyiсреда обитанияCutting down forests destroys the habitat of many birds.
      35
      developmentnoun
      qurilish, o'zlashtirishзастройка, развитиеThe old park was lost to housing development.
      36
      conservationnoun
      tabiatni muhofaza qilishохрана природыThe government spends more on wildlife conservation every year.
      37
      illegaladjective
      noqonuniyнезаконныйIt is illegal to drive without a licence.
      38
      magnificentadjective
      muhtasham, ajoyibвеликолепныйThe palace has a magnificent blue dome.
      39
      kindnessnoun
      mehribonlikдобротаThank you for your kindness when I was ill.
      40
      creaturenoun
      jonzot, mavjudotсуществоThe ocean is full of strange creatures.