题目
Wild elephants can distinguish between human languages, and they can tell whether a voice comes from a man, woman or boy, a new study says. That’s what researchers found when they played recordings of people for elephants in Kenya. Scientists say this is an advanced thinking skill that other animals haven’t shown. It lets elephants figure out who is a threat and who isn’t. The result shows that while humans are studying elephants, the clever animals are also studying people and drawing on their famed powers of memory, said study author Karen McComb. "Basically they have developed this very rich knowledge of the humans that they share their habitat with," said McComb, a professor of animal behaviour and cognition at the University of Sussex in England. "Memory is key. They must build up that knowledge somehow." The study was released Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. It’s close but not quite like the Dr. Seuss book, where the empathetic elephant Horton hears something that others can’t hear. McComb and colleagues went to Amboseli National Park in Kenya, where hundreds of wild elephants live among humans, sometimes coming in conflict over scarce water. The scientists used voice recordings of Maasai men, who on occasion kill elephants in confrontations over grazing for cattle, and Kamba men, who are less of a threat to the elephants. By about a two-to-one margin, the elephants reacted defensively—retreating and gathering in a bunch—more to the Maasai language recording because it was associated with the more threatening human tribe, said study co-author Graeme Shannon of Colorado State University. "They are making such a fine-level discrimination using human language skills," Shannon said. "They’re able to acquire quite detailed knowledge. The only way of doing this is with an exceptionally large brain." They repeated the experiment with recordings of Maasai men and women. Since women almost never spear elephants, the animals reacted less to the women’s voices. The same thing happened when they substituted young boys’ voices. "Making this kind of fine distinctions in human voice patterns is quite remarkable," said Emory University animal cognition expert Frans de Waal, who was not part of the study. 1 What can we know about the ability to distinguish between human languages? A Scientists believe it is unique to humans. B Animals have learnt such ability from humans. C No animal except wild elephants has developed it. D Studies show that wild animals are born with such ability. 2 Which of the following is not true about the study mentioned in the passage? A It shows wild elephants can hear something that others can’t hear. B It was conducted in Amboseli National Park in Kenya. C It involved playing recordings of people for wild elephants. D It was made public in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 3 Who were the people taking part in the study? A Frans de Waal and Karen McComb. B Graeme Shannon and Frans de Waal. C Dr. Seuss and Graeme Shannon. D Karen McComb and Graeme Shannon. 4 How did the elephants feel of young Maasai boys’ voices? A They are extremely exciting. B They are very depressing. C They are less threatening. D They are gentle and kind. 5 What can wild elephants benefit from their special ability? A Identify and avoid possible danger. B Evolve much faster than any other animals. C Have a better understanding of humans. D Develop their language skills.
Wild elephants can distinguish between human languages, and they can tell whether a voice comes from a man, woman or boy, a new study says. That’s what researchers found when they played recordings of people for elephants in Kenya. Scientists say this is an advanced thinking skill that other animals haven’t shown. It lets elephants figure out who is a threat and who isn’t.
The result shows that while humans are studying elephants, the clever animals are also studying people and drawing on their famed powers of memory, said study author Karen McComb.
"Basically they have developed this very rich knowledge of the humans that they share their habitat with," said McComb, a professor of animal behaviour and cognition at the University of Sussex in England. "Memory is key. They must build up that knowledge somehow."
The study was released Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
It’s close but not quite like the Dr. Seuss book, where the empathetic elephant Horton hears something that others can’t hear.
McComb and colleagues went to Amboseli National Park in Kenya, where hundreds of wild elephants live among humans, sometimes coming in conflict over scarce water. The scientists used voice recordings of Maasai men, who on occasion kill elephants in confrontations over grazing for cattle, and Kamba men, who are less of a threat to the elephants.
By about a two-to-one margin, the elephants reacted defensively—retreating and gathering in a bunch—more to the Maasai language recording because it was associated with the more threatening human tribe, said study co-author Graeme Shannon of Colorado State University. "They are making such a fine-level discrimination using human language skills," Shannon said. "They’re able to acquire quite detailed knowledge. The only way of doing this is with an exceptionally large brain."
They repeated the experiment with recordings of Maasai men and women. Since women almost never spear elephants, the animals reacted less to the women’s voices. The same thing happened when they substituted young boys’ voices. "Making this kind of fine distinctions in human voice patterns is quite remarkable," said Emory University animal cognition expert Frans de Waal, who was not part of the study.
1 What can we know about the ability to distinguish between human languages?
A Scientists believe it is unique to humans.
B Animals have learnt such ability from humans.
C No animal except wild elephants has developed it.
D Studies show that wild animals are born with such ability.
2 Which of the following is not true about the study mentioned in the passage?
A It shows wild elephants can hear something that others can’t hear.
B It was conducted in Amboseli National Park in Kenya.
C It involved playing recordings of people for wild elephants.
D It was made public in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
3 Who were the people taking part in the study?
A Frans de Waal and Karen McComb.
B Graeme Shannon and Frans de Waal.
C Dr. Seuss and Graeme Shannon.
D Karen McComb and Graeme Shannon.
4 How did the elephants feel of young Maasai boys’ voices?
A They are extremely exciting.
B They are very depressing.
C They are less threatening.
D They are gentle and kind.
5 What can wild elephants benefit from their special ability?
A Identify and avoid possible danger.
B Evolve much faster than any other animals.
C Have a better understanding of humans.
D Develop their language skills.
The result shows that while humans are studying elephants, the clever animals are also studying people and drawing on their famed powers of memory, said study author Karen McComb.
"Basically they have developed this very rich knowledge of the humans that they share their habitat with," said McComb, a professor of animal behaviour and cognition at the University of Sussex in England. "Memory is key. They must build up that knowledge somehow."
The study was released Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
It’s close but not quite like the Dr. Seuss book, where the empathetic elephant Horton hears something that others can’t hear.
McComb and colleagues went to Amboseli National Park in Kenya, where hundreds of wild elephants live among humans, sometimes coming in conflict over scarce water. The scientists used voice recordings of Maasai men, who on occasion kill elephants in confrontations over grazing for cattle, and Kamba men, who are less of a threat to the elephants.
By about a two-to-one margin, the elephants reacted defensively—retreating and gathering in a bunch—more to the Maasai language recording because it was associated with the more threatening human tribe, said study co-author Graeme Shannon of Colorado State University. "They are making such a fine-level discrimination using human language skills," Shannon said. "They’re able to acquire quite detailed knowledge. The only way of doing this is with an exceptionally large brain."
They repeated the experiment with recordings of Maasai men and women. Since women almost never spear elephants, the animals reacted less to the women’s voices. The same thing happened when they substituted young boys’ voices. "Making this kind of fine distinctions in human voice patterns is quite remarkable," said Emory University animal cognition expert Frans de Waal, who was not part of the study.
1 What can we know about the ability to distinguish between human languages?
A Scientists believe it is unique to humans.
B Animals have learnt such ability from humans.
C No animal except wild elephants has developed it.
D Studies show that wild animals are born with such ability.
2 Which of the following is not true about the study mentioned in the passage?
A It shows wild elephants can hear something that others can’t hear.
B It was conducted in Amboseli National Park in Kenya.
C It involved playing recordings of people for wild elephants.
D It was made public in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
3 Who were the people taking part in the study?
A Frans de Waal and Karen McComb.
B Graeme Shannon and Frans de Waal.
C Dr. Seuss and Graeme Shannon.
D Karen McComb and Graeme Shannon.
4 How did the elephants feel of young Maasai boys’ voices?
A They are extremely exciting.
B They are very depressing.
C They are less threatening.
D They are gentle and kind.
5 What can wild elephants benefit from their special ability?
A Identify and avoid possible danger.
B Evolve much faster than any other animals.
C Have a better understanding of humans.
D Develop their language skills.
题目解答
答案
1 C
2 A
3 D
4 C
5 A
2 A
3 D
4 C
5 A