Why Do Giraffes Have Long Necks?

Lexile: 980 | Grade: 7

Passage

When people see a giraffe, the first thing they usually notice is its incredibly long neck. For many years, scientists believed that giraffes developed long necks so they could reach leaves high up in tall trees.

But today, some researchers think the story might be a bit more complicated.

Giraffes are the tallest land animals in the world. Their long necks, which can be up to six feet long, seem perfect for grabbing food from high branches. This idea makes sense, especially in places where food is hard to find.

However, newer research suggests that competition between male giraffes might also explain their neck length.

In the wild, male giraffes often fight by swinging their necks and hitting each other with their heads. These battles are called “necking.” The males with longer, stronger necks usually win, gaining the chance to mate with female giraffes.

Over time, this may have caused necks to grow even longer—not just for feeding, but also for fighting.

So, while the old idea about reaching leaves isn’t wrong, it’s only part of the story. Giraffes’ necks might have evolved for more than one reason—survival and strength.

Questions

Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?

  • A. Giraffes eat leaves from tall trees because they are herbivores.
  • B. Scientists no longer study why giraffes have long necks.
  • C. Giraffes’ necks may have evolved for both feeding and fighting.
  • D. Male giraffes never use their necks for anything other than eating.

Q2: What is the function of the second sentence: 'But today, some researchers think the story might be a bit more complicated.'?

  • A. It introduces a new paragraph topic about diet.
  • B. It suggests the passage will explain the traditional view of giraffes.
  • C. It signals a shift from a simple explanation to a more complex one.
  • D. It explains how giraffes use their necks in the wild.

Q3: What does the author most likely want the reader to understand about giraffe evolution?

  • A. It’s only about survival through diet.
  • B. It remains a mystery that science cannot explain.
  • C. It may be influenced by more than one factor over time.
  • D. It depends on how often giraffes fight.

Q4: What does the phrase 'not just for feeding, but also for fighting' help the reader understand?

  • A. Giraffes’ necks are too long for their bodies.
  • B. Giraffes evolved entirely due to food shortages.
  • C. Giraffe necks serve multiple functions that affect evolution.
  • D. Giraffes prefer fighting to eating.

Q5: How does the author organize the passage to build the argument?

  • A. By comparing giraffes to other animals with long necks
  • B. By presenting a traditional idea and then introducing new research
  • C. By focusing only on the diet of giraffes
  • D. By telling a story about a giraffe in the wild

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Answers & Reasoning

Q1: What is the main idea of the passage?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage presents two reasons for giraffes’ long necks—reaching food and fighting for mates—showing that evolution may be influenced by multiple factors.

Q2: What is the function of the second sentence: 'But today, some researchers think the story might be a bit more complicated.'?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The sentence transitions from a commonly accepted idea to a newer, more detailed theory, showing a shift in focus.

Q3: What does the author most likely want the reader to understand about giraffe evolution?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: The passage presents both feeding and fighting as contributing factors, suggesting a more complex evolutionary process.

Q4: What does the phrase 'not just for feeding, but also for fighting' help the reader understand?

✅ Correct Answer: C

💡 Reasoning: This phrase emphasizes that necks evolved for more than one reason, reinforcing the idea of dual evolutionary pressures.

Q5: How does the author organize the passage to build the argument?

✅ Correct Answer: B

💡 Reasoning: The author first introduces the traditional belief, then presents recent findings that add depth to the explanation.