Reading Part 4-Informational Reading

Section 4- Informational Reading

Informational reading is for acquiring knowledge or information on any subject. The content of informational reading is all facts, that have been verified. Below is an example of informational reading. It describes the differences between African and Asian elephants.

What is the difference between African and Asian elephants?

 Both African and Asian elephants are descendants of the same family, Elephantidae, but they are of different genus. The African elephant belongs to the Loxodonta Africana genus while the Asian elephant belong to the Elephas maximus genus.

African and Asian elephants may look similar but there are basic differences.

The ears

African elephants have larger ears reaching the size of the animal’s whole head. Asian elephants have smaller ears

Weight

The African elephant is much larger, averaging 3,600–6,000 kilograms (8,000–13,200 lbs.) Asian males weigh between 3000-6,000 kilograms (6,600–11,000 lbs.)

The back

The back of an African elephant has a defined slope, while the Asian elephant has a flatter back.

Tusks

Both male and female African elephants have tusks. However, only some Asian male elephants have tusks which are noticeably smaller than those of the African elephants.

Trunk

The African elephant’s trunk is equipped with two “fingers”. These allow it to grasp onto leaves and grasses before bringing them to its mouth. Asian elephant’s trunk, however has only one “finger”. They use this single “finger” to curl around food, which they then squeeze up into their mouths.

Head

African elephants are smooth-headed. Asian elephants have a distinctly humped skull.

This reading passage discusses the basic differences between African and Asian elephants. It describes in detail the differences between the ears, the weight, the back, the trunks, the tucks and heads of African and Asian elephants. The information is all based on research.