Morning Starters: Autumn 2 - Mountain Mammals
Did You Know?
The yak is a species of long-haired domesticated cattle found throughout the Himalayan region, the Tibetan Plateau, Tajikistan, the Pamir Mountains and as far north as Mongolia and Siberia. Yaks are built for the high life. They have larger lungs and hearts than cattle, making them more efficient at pumping oxygen through their blood. Farmers, traders and adventurers use this mammal’s great strength to carry heavy loads through steep mountain passes.
Where in the world is Mongolia? Click the 🌍
Word Challenge
List some hyphenated adjectives that could describe a yak.
Example: sure-footed, mountain-dwelling, …
Grammar Challenge
Copy and complete the following sentence.
The yaks stampeded through the mountain pass; _______ .
Note: Notice the semi-colon. This means that the sentence must have two main clauses with the second clause closely linked to the first.
Challenge: Write a follow-on sentence that includes a metaphor.
Number Challenge
The weight of goods carried by 4 different yaks are shown below.
What is the mean average weight carried?
| Yak 1 | Yak 2 | Yak 3 |
| 99 kg | 104 kg | 238 kg |
Critical Thinking
Is it sometimes, always or never OK for humans to put animals (like yaks, donkeys and camels) to work? Why do you think this?