What makes clouds form and why do hyenas laugh? Try our kids’ quiz

1. Barnaby, 7, asks: how are clouds made?

   1. By angels blowing the wind

   2. From fluffy cotton wool

   3. When water vapour in the air cools and turns into water droplets or ice crystals

   4. From steam from all the world’s kettles and cooking pots

2. Reagan, 5, asks: why do hyenas laugh?

   1. Because they are good at telling jokes

   2. They are frustrated, in conflict or hunting

   3. To show that they are hurt

   4. To scare off predators

3. Natasha, 10, asks: why are there white crescent shapes at the base of your fingernails?

   1. To show that the base of the nail has dried out

   2. They are an extension of the “cuticle” – the little bit of skin that covers up the lower part of your fingernail

   3. To show the age of the fingernails, and who they belong to

   4. They’re part of the “nail matrix” – the tissue under your nail

4. Francesca, 7, asks: why do elephants have big ears?

   1. Because they’re fun to wiggle

   2. To help cool them down

   3. To create shade from the sun on their faces

   4. So they can play peek-a-boo with baby elephants

5. Gylfi, 3, asks: why do crabs walk sideways?

   1. Because it is quicker than walking forwards

   2. So they can keep looking forwards and spot predators as they walk

   3. Evolution has meant that their legs can’t move forwards like other animals

   4. Walking sideways helps keep their shell in place

Solutions

1:C - The sky is full of water; we just can’t see it. Clouds form when the temperature drops and invisible water in the air cools. As it cools, it turns into visible water droplets or ice crystals and forms clouds., 2:B - Hyenas make a noise that sounds like laughter when they are in conflict, like fighting for food. The sound shows that they’re frustrated, they’re under attack or one of their pack has just made a kill. It also shows their social status., 3:D - The white crescent shape is the “lunula”. It is part of the nail matrix – tissue that contains nerves and blood vessels. Not everyone will see or have a lunula on each nail., 4:B - Elephant ears are thin and filled with tiny blood vessels that help an elephant cool down., 5:A - Through evolution, the size of many crabs’ tails has reduced a lot, to the size of a tiny flap under their bodies. This means they can walk sideways, which for crabs is quicker than going forwards. However, some crabs still move forwards, like lumbering spider crabs and hermit crabs, who carry their homes on their backs.

Scores

1. 5 and above.

2. 4 and above.

3. 3 and above.

4. 2 and above.

5. 0 and above.

6. 1 and above.

Molly Oldfield hosts Everything Under the Sun, a weekly podcast answering children’s questions, out now as a book.

Does your child have a question? Submit one here