Final answer:
The large elephant would cool the slowest if it fell into a pool of freezing water due to its smaller surface area-to-volume ratio.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assuming equal mass, volume, and starting temperature, the animal that would cool the slowest if it fell into a pool of freezing water would be the large elephant. This is because larger animals have a smaller surface area-to-volume ratio, which means they lose heat at a slower rate compared to smaller animals. The larger size of the elephant allows it to retain more body heat and stay warmer in the freezing water.