Reading Comprehension Practice

The baobab tree is one of the most remarkable trees in Africa. Some baobab trees are over 1,000 years old. Their thick trunks can store up to 120,000 litres of water, which helps them survive long dry seasons. The fruit of the baobab, sometimes called "monkey bread," is rich in vitamin C — it has six times more than an orange! People across Africa use the baobab in many ways. The leaves are eaten as vegetables, the bark is woven into rope and baskets, and the fruit is made into a popular juice drink. Many animals depend on the baobab too. Birds nest in its branches, baboons eat its fruit, and elephants sometimes break open the trunk to reach the water inside. In many communities, the baobab is considered sacred. Village meetings are held under its branches, and elders share stories in its shade. Losing a baobab tree is like losing a piece of the community itself.

Every Saturday morning, Amina helped her grandmother sell vegetables at the Kano central market. She would wake up before the sun rose, help load the cart with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and spinach, and push it through the quiet streets while the city was still sleeping. Amina loved the early morning — the cool air, the sound of birds, the smell of fresh bread from the bakery they passed. But what she loved most was the mathematics. "Grandmother, if we have 48 tomatoes and sell them in groups of 6, how many groups is that?" she would ask. Her grandmother would laugh and say, "You tell me, little professor!" By mid-morning, the market was alive with noise and colour. Customers bargained loudly, children ran between the stalls, and the smell of suya filled the air. Amina handled the money carefully, counting change and keeping track of their sales in a small notebook. By afternoon, when the cart was nearly empty, Amina would count their earnings. "Grandmother, we made 4,200 naira today!" Her grandmother would smile proudly. "And how much is that per hour we worked?" Amina was already doing the calculation in her head.