Complex sentence: The sight of an elephant sitting atop a tree makes quite a scene-Horton is exposed to the elements, laughed at by his jungle friends, captured by hunters, forced to endure a terrible sea voyage, and finally placed in a traveling circus.
Split into simpler sentences: The sight of an elephant sitting atop a tree results in hardships including ridicule by Horton's friends and exposure to the elements. He is captured by hunters, forced to endure a terrible sea voyage, and finally placed in a traveling circus.