ESL Questions Elephants
Elephants
These questions examine one of the world's most intelligent animals. Students look at elephant behavior, their role in culture, and the ethics of how we treat them.
Beginner
Do elephants have big ears?
Is an elephant very strong?
Do you like gray animals?
Is the elephant's trunk long?
Do elephants eat grass?
Is a baby elephant cute?
Do they live in Africa?
Is the elephant very heavy?
Do they walk in groups?
Is an elephant smart?
Do they like water?
Is the elephant's skin thick?
Do you see the tusks?
Is a tiger faster?
Do elephants sleep standing?
Is the forest their home?
Do they remember faces?
Is an elephant loud?
Do they have four legs?
Is the zoo big?
Do they use their trunk?
Is the sun hot?
Do you like big animals?
Is the elephant friendly?
Do they live long?
Intermediate
What would you do if you saw a wild elephant while on vacation?
How do you think elephants communicate with each other over long distances?
Is it better for an elephant to live in a zoo or a park?
Why do you think elephants are so important in many different cultures?
How do you feel about people riding elephants for fun or tourism?
Have you ever seen a real elephant in person at a zoo?
Do you think elephants have feelings like sadness and joy?
What is the most interesting fact you know about these animals?
Should we stop people from buying things made of elephant ivory?
How do elephants help the other animals in the wild?
Why are elephants often used in movies and children's books?
How do you think an elephant protects its baby from a lion?
Is it difficult to take care of an elephant in a sanctuary?
What would happen if elephants disappeared from the world forever?
How do farmers feel when elephants eat all their crops at night?
Do you think that elephants are smarter than pet dogs?
How do elephants use their trunks to eat and drink?
Should we spend more money to protect elephants from hunters?
Why do elephants live in large families with a leader?
How do you feel when you see an elephant performing in a circus?
Is it possible for humans and elephants to live peacefully together?
What kind of sounds does an elephant make when it is angry?
How do you think an elephant stays cool in the hot sun?
Why do some people want to keep large animals as pets?
What is the biggest threat to elephants in the world today?
Advanced
Is it ethical to keep highly intelligent and social animals like elephants in captivity?
How does 'elephant memory' serve as an evolutionary advantage for the herd?
Should we use modern technology like drones to stop the illegal ivory trade?
How do elephants influence the structure of the landscape in the savanna?
Is the concept of 'animal rights' different for an elephant than for a fly?
How do we balance the needs of local farmers with elephant conservation?
Should we use DNA testing to track where illegal ivory comes from?
How does the loss of a 'matriarch' (leader) affect the survival of the herd?
Is 'eco-tourism' helping elephants or just causing them more stress?
What can we learn about human grief by studying elephant burial rituals?
How do elephants use infrasound to talk to others miles away?
Should countries be allowed to sell their stockpiles of old ivory?
How does habitat loss due to human cities affect elephant migration?
Is it possible to truly understand the 'consciousness' of an elephant?
How do elephants show empathy when another member of the group is hurt?
Should elephants be given 'legal personhood' in a court of law?
What role does the elephant play in the mythology of your culture?
How does the circus industry defend the training of these animals?
Is it right to use elephants for heavy labor in modern times?
How do elephants adapt when their water sources dry up during a drought?
What is the psychological impact on an elephant that is kept alone?
How do we educate people that ivory has no medicinal value?
Should we use genetic engineering to bring back the woolly mammoth?
How do elephants recognize themselves in a mirror test?
What does the future of the elephant look like in a warming world?