How Bats Use Sound to See — Reading Comprehension

Bats are amazing animals that can fly at night without bumping into things. They do this by using a process called echolocation. This means bats use sound to 'see' in the dark.

When a bat flies, it makes high-pitched sounds that are too high for humans to hear. These sounds are called ultrasound. The sound travels through the air as sound waves. When the sound waves hit an object, like an insect or a wall, they bounce back to the bat as an echo.

Bats have excellent ears. When they hear the echo, they can tell where an object is, how big it is, and even what shape it is. This helps bats catch insects to eat and avoid crashing into trees or buildings.

This method is very important for bats because many are nocturnal, which means they are active at night. At night, it is too dark to see with eyes alone. By using echolocation, bats can find food and fly safely in the dark.

Scientists have learned from bats and use echolocation in technology. For example, sonar is used by submarines to find things underwater. Some blind people use clicking sounds to help them find their way, just like bats do.

There are over 1,400 types of bats in the world. Some hunt for insects, while others eat fruit or drink nectar. No matter what they eat, echolocation helps them survive in their environment.

Interesting Fact: Some bats can hear sounds up to 120,000 Hertz, which is far higher than humans can hear!

What is echolocation?

What do bats hunt for food?

What does 'nocturnal' mean?

Why do bats need echolocation?

How does sonar help humans?

What happens if there are no echoes?

Bats use sound to 'see'.

What is an echo?