Question

bison or buffalo? bison and buffalo belong to the bovidae, or cattle, family, but they are different species and have distinct characteristics. many people refer to the creatures that once roamed the american west as buffalo; however, these animals are actually american bison, and they are only found in north america. on the other hand, two species of buffalo—the cape buffalo and the water buffalo—are found in africa and asia, respectively. unlike the american bison, which has short horns similar to those of cows, buffalo have broad, sweeping horns. in addition, the american bison has a broad head carried low and a massive hump at the shoulders. in contrast, buffalo don’t have shoulder humps and their heads are smaller than the bison’s. what is the main, or central, idea of the passage? american bison can be distinguished from buffalo by the size and shape of their horns. buffalo and american bison are both members of the bovidae family. american bison are often mistakenly called buffalo, but the two creatures are quite different.

Explanation:

The passage focuses on explaining the differences between bison and buffalo, including their physical characteristics (horns, humps, heads) and distribution. The main idea is to clarify that despite being from the same family, they are distinct species and often confused in naming. The option "American bison are often mistakenly called buffalo, but the two creatures are quite different" captures this central idea as it addresses the confusion in naming and their distinctness, which is supported by the details about their features and habitats. The other options either focus on a sub - point (like distinguishing by horns and size - first option) or a minor fact (both being in Bovidae - second option).

Answer:

American bison are often mistakenly called buffalo, but the two creatures are quite different.