If you speak to anyone in North America and you say "elk," they immediately know that you are referring to
the very large animal with huge horns and a white rump. The elk is similar to the mule deer, but is a great
deal larger. These mighty animals roam the forests in Canada and the United States. Hunting elk is
considered the adventure of a lifetime for hunting enthusiasts.
Early explorers created a confusion that is still with us today. When the Europeans arrived in North
America and saw these large animals, they named them "elk," which is the European word for "moose."
Europe has an animal similar to an elk but much smaller, and that is the red deer. They knew that it was
too large to be a red deer. Therefore, they named it after the closest animal of that size - the moose.
Which of the following characteristics was used by the European explorers to identify the elk they found in
America?
Select the single best answer:
A. horns
B. hooves
OC. snout
OD. size
E. antlers