An upsurge of new research suggests animals have a much higher level of brainpower than previously thought. Before defining animals' intelligence, scientists defined what is not intelligence. Instinct is not intelligence. It is a skill programmed into an animal's brain by its genetic heritage. Rote conditioning or cuing, in which animals learn to do or not to do certain things by following outside signals is also not intelligence, since tricks can be learned by repetition, but no real thinking is involved. Scientists believe insight, the ability to use tools, and communications using human language are effective measures.
When judging animal intelligence, scientists look for insight, which they define as a flash of sudden understanding. When a young gorilla could not reach fruit from a tree, she noticed crates scattered about the lawn, piled them and then climbed on them to reach her reward. The gorilla's insight allowed her to solve a new problem without trial and error. The ability to use tools is also an important sign of intelligence. Crows use sticks to pry peanuts out of cracks. The crow exhibits intelligence by showing it has learned what a stick can do. Likewise, otters use rocks to crack open crab and, in a series of complex moves, chimpanzees have been known to use sticks to get at favorite snack-termites. Many animals have learned to communicate using human language. Some primates have learned hundreds of words in sign language. One chimp can recognize and correctly use more than 250 abstract symbols on a keyboard and one parrot can distinguish five objects of two different types and can understand the difference between numbers, colors, and kinds of object.
The research on animal intelligence raises important questions. If animals are smarter than once thought, would that change the way humans interact with them? Would humans stop hunting them for sport or survival? Would animals still be used for food or clothing or medical experimentation? Finding the answer to these tough questions makes a difficult puzzle even for a large-brained, problem-solving species like our own.
1. According to the text, which is true about animals communicating through the use of ______ human language?
A. Parrots can imitate or repeat a sound.
B. Dolphins click and whistle.
C. Crows screech warnings to other crows.
D. Chimps have been trained to use sign language or word symbolizing geometric shapes.
2. The word "upsurge", (Line 1, Para 1), most nearly means_______
A. an increasingly large amount B. a decreasing amount
C. a well-known amount D. an immeasurable amount
3. The chimpanzee's ability to use a tool illustrates high intelligence because ______
A. he is able to get his food
B. he faced a difficult task and accomplished it
C. he stored knowledge away and called it up at the right time
D. termites are protein-packed
4. The concluding paragraph of this text infers________
A. there is no definitive line between those animals with intelligence and those without
B. animals are being given opportunities to display their intelligence
C. research showing higher animal intelligence may fuel debate on ethics and cruelty
D. animals are capable of untrained thought well beyond mere instinct
5. Which of the following is NOT a sign of animal intelligence?
A. Shows insight. B. Cues. C. Uses tools. D. Makes a plan.
核心词汇注释
upsurge n.高潮
brainpower n.智能,智囊,智囊团
program n.节目;程序:纲要,计划 vt.规划,拟……计划;安排……入节目 vi.安排节目;编程序
rote n.死记硬背,机械的做法,生搬硬套
conditioning n.[心]条件作用,训练
pry v.探查
chimpanzee n.[动]洲的小人猿,黑猩猩
termite n.[昆]白蚁
primate n.首领,大主教,灵长类的动物
chimp n.(非洲)黑猩猩
interact vi.互相作用,互相影响
长难句剖析
Rote conditioning or cuing,in which animals learn to do or not to do certain things by following outside signals is also not intelligence,since tricks can be learned by repetition,but no real thinking is involved.
[结构分析]本句主干是Rote conditioning or cuing…is also not intelligence。介词in which引导定语从句,修饰主语。since引导原因状语从句,其中包括两个并列复合句,由but连接。
[参考译文]动物通过遵从外界信号,学会做或者不做某些事情,这种机械的条件作用或者提示也不是智能,因为技巧可以通过重复而学会,但并不涉及真正的思考。
全文参考译文
大量新的研究表明,动物的智能比人们以前所认为的要高得多。科学家们在给动物智能下定义之前界定了什么不是智能。本能不是智能。它是通过遗传设置在动物大脑中的一种技能。动物通过遵从外界信号,学会做或者不做某些事情,这种机械的条件作用或者提示也不是智能,因为技巧可以通过重复而学会,并不涉及真正的思考。科学家们认为,有效的标准是悟性、使用工具的能力以及用人类语言交流。
科学家们在判断动物智力时,在寻找一种洞察力,他们将其定义为灵光一现。当一只年幼的大猩猩够不到树上的果实,看到草坪上散放着板条箱,于是把箱子堆在一起,然后爬上去得到自己想要的东西。大猩猩的悟性让自己一次性地解决了新问题。同样是智能的一个重要标志是使用工具的能力。乌鸦使用木棍从裂缝中撬出花生。乌鸦通过表明自己已经了解木棍的功能来展示智能。同样地,水獭使用石块砸开螃蟹。根据了解,黑猩猩做出一系列复杂的动作。使用木棍够到爱吃的白蚁作为快餐。许多动物学会使用人类语言进行交流。有些灵长目动物学会了数百个手势语词汇。一只黑猩猩能识别并正确使用250多个抽象的键盘符号。一只鹦鹅能区分属于两个不同类型的五个物体,并能理解数字之间的差别、颜色以及物体的类别。
有关动物智能的研究引出了重要的问题。假如动物比人们从前所认为的更为聪明,这将改变人类与它们相互作用的方式吗?人类会不再为了娱乐或者生存而捕杀它们吗?还会将动物用于食物、服装或者医学实验吗?找到这些疑难问题的答案,即使对于像我们人类这样一个高智能、善于解决问题的物种来说,也是一个难题。
题目答案与解析
1. 依照本文,有关动物使用人类语言进行交流的说法正确的是哪项? [答案]D
A.鹦鹉能够模仿或重复某种声音。 B.海豚发出滴答声和口哨声。
C.乌鸦发出尖叫声来警告其他的乌鸦。D训练黑猩猩使用手势语或象征几何形状的词语
[解析]本题中,A、B、C三项或违背原文信息,或原文未经提到。只有D项为正确答案。
2. 与单词“upsurge”(第1段第1行)最相近的意思是_______。 [答案]A
A.急剧增长的数量 B.渐少的数量 C.清楚明白的数量 D.不可估量的数量
[解析]本文中,单词upsurge的意思是“急剧增长的数量”。
3. 黑猩猩使用工具的能力证明了它们具有高智能,因为________。 [答案]C
A.它能得到食物 B.它面对困难的任务并能够完成这项任务
C.它积累知识并在恰当的时间使用 D.白蚁含有蛋白质
[解析]根据黑猩猩能做出一系列复杂的动作,并使用木棍够到白蚁,说明它们能积累经验,加以利用,证明它们具有智能。因此C项为正确答案。
4. 从本文结束段落可推断出________。 [答案]C
A.有智能的动物和没有智能的动物之间没有明确的分界线
B.给动物们机会来展现它们的智能
C.调查显示高智能动物可能会引起有关伦理、残酷方面的辩论
D.动物能够不经训练地思考不只是出于本能
[解析]本文的最后一段提出一系列人类与动物关系的问题,涉及人类对动物的残酷,据此可推断出,对动物较高智能的研究可能引发有关伦理、残酷方面的辩论。因此C项为正确答案。
5. 下面不属于动物智能的表现的是哪项? [答案]B
A.显示悟性 B.发出信号 C.使用工具 D.制定计划
[解析]本题中,动物智能包括悟性、使用工具和制定计划。cues(发出信号)不属于动物智能的表现。因此B项为正确答案。
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