PART TWO PLEASE IM BEGGIN YOU CAN YOU HELP An elephant lumbers across African grassland as

dust rises up from each of her steps. She finds a

giant tree and works to pierce its thick bark with

her tusks. She is prying and poking to get at

the water the tree often stores inside. This is no

ordinary tree but a baobab, a tree that looms large

in size and importance for both the animals and

people of Africa The baobab’s astonishing appearance alone proves

it is special. It can grow up to 60 feet high and

30 feet wide, soaring above most other life in the

dry savannah. The baobab has a wide barrel-like

trunk topped with shorter, twisted branches. It

only grows leaves for two short periods, giving the

branches the appearance of gnarled roots for most

of the year. In fact, some African legends say that

a god, angry at the baobab, decided to uproot and

replant it upside down. This remarkable tree survives dry conditions and

is found in many regions of Africa. Its roots spread

out up to a hundred feet away to gather needed

water. The adaptable sponge-like bark contracts in

dry months and expands in wet ones. Baobab trees

serve as a source of water, food, and a safe home

for a variety of animals. In particular, the whitebacked vulture, with a wingspan of about seven

feet, nests high in the baobab’s branches. The great

bird only nests once a year, laying just one egg. The

tall, strong baobab provides the ideal site for several

months of safety for the mother and baby vulture. For centuries, the baobab has also been

essential to the people in various parts of Africa,

many of whom call it the “Tree of Life.” The

baobab’s immense trunk is hollow, creating a

large circular chamber at the center. Baobab

chambers have been used as shelters, prisons,

and animal stables. The tree’s spinach-like

leaves can be eaten, and people use them for

both food and medicine. The fruit provides

a citrus-like refreshment. People strip off the

fibrous bark to make rope, cloth, roofing, and

paper. Unlike most other trees, the baobab can

endure this practice, regenerating its bark and

continuing to grow. Perhaps this is one reason baobabs have such

incredible longevity. Some have even been

known to live for over 2,000 years! These

amazing survivors continue to provide valuable

resources across 32 countries in Africa.

What idea(s) from the passage do the

elephant’s actions in paragraph 1 help

support? Check all that apply.

a-The baobab absorbs water.

b-The baobab provides a safe place to stay.

c- The baobab gives life to animals.

d- The baobab trunk is used for shelter.

e-The baobab lives for thousands of years.