A humpback whale named Old Timer, first seen in 1972, was recently spotted again in Alaska. At 53 years old, Old Timer is the world’s oldest known humpback whale. Humpback whales have unique tails that help scientists recognize them.
Dr. Adam A. Pack, a researcher from the University of Hawai’i, last saw Old Timer in 2015 during a tough time when many whales were dying because of warmer ocean waters. But in July, Dr. Pack was happy to see that Old Timer had survived.
Scientists have been studying humpback whales for a long time, taking pictures of their tails to track them. Now, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and a platform called Happywhale, they can identify whales more easily by matching tail photos. This helps them learn more about the whales’ lives and why some, like Old Timer, can survive tough conditions.
Dr. Pack wants to learn how Old Timer managed to survive when other whales struggled. He thinks Old Timer’s age might have helped him adapt when food was scarce, but more research is needed to understand if this is true.
Adapted from New York Times
Multiple Choice Questions:
What makes a humpback whale’s tail unique?
a) Its size
b) Its color
c) Its unique pattern and scalloped edges
d) Its length
How old is Old Timer, the humpback whale?
a) 40 years old
b) 53 years old
c) 30 years old
d) 60 years old
What is the name of the online platform that helps identify whales?
a) WhaleFinder
b) Happywhale
c) WhaleSpotter
d) OceanTracker
Why did many humpback whales die between 2014 and 2016?
a) Because of ship strikes
b) Due to a marine heat wave
c) Because of fishing nets
d) Due to pollution
What did Dr. Pack hope to learn about Old Timer?
a) Why Old Timer migrated
b) How Old Timer managed to survive tough conditions
c) Where Old Timer finds food
d) How Old Timer communicates with other whales
True/False Questions:
True or False: Old Timer is the oldest known humpback whale in the world.
True or False: Scientists can recognize individual whales by looking at their tails.
True or False: Old Timer was first spotted in 2015.
True or False: Happywhale uses artificial intelligence to match photos of whale tails.
True or False: Dr. Pack believes Old Timer’s age might have helped him survive difficult conditions.
Download the document to see the answer key.
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