Page 18 - Journeys B1 (Workbook)

2 Family and Frıends

C. What’s the difference between these pairs or groups of words?

1. matriarch / alpha .
2. calf / pup / offspring .
3. pod / pack / herd .
4. scarce / plenty .

Humans are not the only ones on the planet to form strong family bonds. Some animals live in advanced
family groups, with each family member having different roles and responsibilities. In this blog post, we’ll look
at some of the fascinating animal families you’ll find in the wild.

Elephants Wolves Dolphins

In each herd of elephants, there Wolves are very sociable animals Each pod of dolphins has around
is one matriarch or leader. This is who live together in packs. Each 20 to 30 members, and if there is
an older female elephant who pack has an alpha male and plenty of food, there can be as
makes the important decisions female and their offspring; usually many as 100 dolphins in one pod.
about where and when the herd their pups from the current and the Dolphins do not have to stay in the
will move, and she always walks in previous year. The older offspring same pod all their lives, and they
front. The rest of the herd is made are the helpers, while the alpha are free to move to a different pod
up of her daughters and their wolves make all the important at any time. Unlike elephants and
calves. All the adult elephants help decisions. This is very similar to wolves, there is no leader in a pod
to look after the young elephants, human families. The parents are in of dolphins. There are three main
and the older elephants teach the charge, with the children learning types of the pod. There are pods
younger mothers how to do it. from them and following their made up of mothers and their
example. When young wolves are calves, where the mothers help
Male elephants usually live alone, old enough, they leave the pack each other. There are pods made
but sometimes they also live in and start their own family. up of young dolphins, and finally,
groups. These groups also have pods made up of adult males. In
a leader, a strong male who all these pods the dolphins form
protects the group. Sometimes long-lasting relationships with
family groups split, usually because each other. Dolphins have also
food is scarce. They still keep in been known to socialise with other
touch by calling to each other species and even humans.
with rumbling sounds.

16