‘A. Discussion. Read the caption on the right. Do you think
these animals canbe called intligent? How would you
define “intelligence?
B. Scan, Read the photo caption and skim the
reading on the next page. You are going to read about
animal intelligence. Quickly san the reading to answer the
‘questions below. Then read again to check your answers,
4. What animals are mentioned in the reading?
2. What kinds of “intelligence” does each animal display?
164 on 8
‘How smart are animals? tsa question
Sclentts are eying to answer Bits,
such as crows, have shown problem:
Solving sil an creativity by using
tool such a metal wire Yo obtain fod,
Dolphins have demonstiated imitation
and self-awareness by copying thelr
‘rane’ movements. Sheep, and many
other animals, demonstrate memory
and emotions. They can ecogrize
faces and also koow if the person
(er sheep) happy oF angryINSIDE
ANIMALIMINDS
Pepperberg was interested in learning if animals could think, and the best way
to-do this, she reasoned, was to talk to them. To test er theory, she bought an
[rican grey parot she named Alex and taught him to reproduce the sounds
‘of the English language. “I thought ife learned to communicate, | could ask
him questions about how he sees the world,” she explains.
‘When Pepperberg began her research with Alex, very few scientists
‘acknowledged that animals were capable of thought. The general belief was
that animals reacted to things in their environment but lacked the ability to
think or feel. How, then, coulda scientist demonstrate that animals might,
in fact, possess inteligence? “Thats why | started my studies with Alex,
Pepperberg says
toa 450
ws
Certain skis are considered key signs of
Figher mental abilities: a good memory, an
Understanding of symbols, self-awareness,
Understanding of others’ motives, and
creativity. ite by itl, researchers have
documented these abilities in other species.
‘Sheep and elephants can recognize faces.
CChimpanzeesmho are genetically siilar to
humans—use a vaviety of tools for
eating, drinking, and hunting; they aso laugh
when pleased and spit! to show disgust with
something. Octopuses in captivity? are known
to amuse themseives by shooting water at
laboratory staff. They may even exhibit basic
‘emotions by changing color,
‘Alex the parrot was a surprisingly good talker
He learmed how to use his voice to imitate
almost 100 English words, including those for
foods, colors, shapes, and numbers. Although
Imitation was once considered a simple sil,
in recent years, cognitive scientists have
vet 8
1, abonabe, understoed the meaning
of over 150 symbols
5 thts an extemal tabi,
Treas the tater fo fom & mental mage
tthe cther peo’ body and actors an then
adj ison body print te same poston,
Ica Behar that sows an awarenessof ones
‘al ecu Alex had mastered mary Engh
wots, eppetberg could sk him questions
Towasiisteiundestndngor be ws, |
fee could coun aswel deze shapes
Colo, and des or appa ha even had
an eleentaryundestancng of he
corr afaoe
‘Many of Alex’ cognitive sl, such as his
ablity to understand the concepts of same and
different, ae generally attributed only to higher
mammals, particulary primates such as humans
and apes. But pars, ike great apes (and
humans), iv along time in complex societies,
ann nap ein cg‘Ales, an Afican grey parrot, had large vocabulary and was able
‘to answer questions about hs understanding of the word
‘And like primates, these bitds must monitor
the changing relationships within the group.
‘This may explain Alex’sablity to learn a human
language. "When we take [parots] into captivity,
what they start todo i treat us as their flock,”
‘explains Pepperber. Parrots learn to
and use our words so they can become a part of
‘ur group.
Researchers in Germany and Austia have also
been studying language abilty in dogs. One
named Betsy has shown that she is abe to learn
and remember words as quickly asa two-year
(ld child. She has an vocabulary
(of over 340 words (and counting), knows atleast
15 people by name, and can link photographs
with the real objects they represent, Like Alex,
she's pretty smart. This isthe larger lesson of
‘animal cognition research: It us. We are
not alone in our ability to invent, communicate,
‘demonstrate emotions, or think about ourselves
Stil, humans remain the creative species. No
‘ther animal has bul tes, created music,
‘or made a computer. In fact, a number of
cis animals ability to use tools or
Understand human language. They believe
animals are jst: human behavior,
Yet, many researchers say that creativity
and language in animals, like ther forms
of inteligence, have evolved. “People were
surprised to discover that chimpanzees
make tools,” says Alex Kacelnik, an animal
researcher at Oxford University. “But people
aso thought, "Well, they share our ancestry—
of course they're smart’ Now we're finding
these kinds of behaviors in some species of
birds. ut we don’t have a recently shared
ancestry with birds, It means," Kacelrik
continues, “that evolution can invent similar
forms of advanced inteligence more than
conce—that it's not something reserved only
for primates or mammals.
votiea 167A. Completion. Complete the paragraph with words from the box.
‘Two words are extra,
abstract acknowledging dismiss extraordinarily
mastered revealed primitive pronounce
Research in the Fongoll egion of Senegal has 1.
‘that chimpanzees seem to have 2. the art of
basic toolsmaking. Furthermore, a chimp was observed sharpening &
stick with her teeth before using it as atm) 3.
tol forking a bush baby.
Although few people completely 4. the
findings, some researchers question thelr significance, Primatologst
Craig Stanford, for example, while 5.
that the behavior is fascinating, finds thatthe research findings are
‘only important enough to be *... a short note ina journal."
However, researcher iil Pruetz claims thatthe escovery is.
remarkable, ast shows that chimp behavior can be
6. humane,
B. Definitions. Complete the sentences with words from the box
“Two words are extra,
/ * Abvush baby ia small
abstract acknowledge dismiss. extraordinary animal with age eyes
bumble master pronounce simulate that ves in fica
1.7 something means to become skilled
inthe we of
2. Iryou an action ora feeling, you copy
itor pretend to doit
3. To ___aword means to say it using
particular sounds
4. Alo) person isnot proud, and does
not believe he or she is beter than other people
5. Iryou factor situation, you aceept or admit
that i is rue
6. Alo) dea or way of thinking is based
‘on general ideas rather than on real things and events
170 sa