Intelligent behavior in birds
Read Intelligent behavior in birds and check the IELTS Reading answers. For centuries, many scholars maintained that humans were the only intelligent organism on Earth. Many traits were considered to be exclusively human examples of acumen - for example, language, tool use, deception, awareness of…
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For centuries, many scholars maintained that humans were the only intelligent organism on Earth. Many traits were considered to be exclusively human examples of acumen - for example, language, tool use, deception, awareness of self and others. However, exciting new research on a number of animals, particularly birds, has called into question the uniqueness of these traits, forcing us to reconsider this opinion. In 1964, people were amazed when naturalist Jane Goodall first discovered chimpanzees making and using tools. But ornithologists, people who study birds, were not overly surprised. Almost 20 years earlier, a renowned ornithologist had shown that tool use was commonplace in populations of woodpecker finches residing on the Galápagos Islands. These tiny birds routinely used twigs to extract grubs from under bark.
Vocabulary from this passage
4 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- acumen noun
The ability to make good judgments and quick decisions, typically in a particular domain
His business acumen allowed him to turn the small shop into a global empire.
- communal adjective
Shared by all members of a community; for common use
The species survived by building communal nests that protected the entire group.
- erratically adverb
In a manner that is not even or regular in pattern or movement; unpredictably
The bird flew erratically through the trees to escape the predator's grasp.
- recalcitrant adjective
Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude toward authority or discipline; difficult to manage
The researcher struggled to extract DNA from the recalcitrant tissue samples.
Answers with explanations
- 14. iv
The answer is heading **iv** (Reviewing long-held beliefs). The paragraph discusses how scholars previously believed traits like tool use were **exclusively human**, but recent research on birds has forced a reconsideration of this **opinion**. This direct contrast between old assumptions and new findings fits the concept of 'reviewing' beliefs.
- 15. viii
The answer is heading **viii** (Several examples of birds who use tools). This section lists multiple distinct examples, including **choughs** using rocks and **black kites** using bait or fire sticks. Because it provides a variety of different species and their specific methods, it serves as a catalogue of tool-using behaviors.
- 16. i
The answer is heading **i** (The theory linking capacity for tool use in birds and survival). The text explains that intelligence evolved as a way to **overcome challenges** and secure food. It specifically links the survival of the 'smartest' to the ability to **reproduce**, showing a direct connection between mental capacity and evolutionary survival.
- 17. ix
The answer is heading **ix** (One species' multiple tool-using techniques). Unlike Paragraph B which looks at many birds, this paragraph focuses exclusively on the **New Caledonian crow**. It describes their varied **tool kit**, including hooked tools, rakes, and probes, highlighting the versatility of a single species.
- 18. vii
The answer is heading **vii** (Physiological evidence of birds' intelligence). The paragraph mentions scientific research comparing **forebrain** size to **hindbrain** size. This physical, anatomical measurement provides **physiological evidence** that correlates brain structure with the ability to invent solutions to ecological problems.
- 19. iii
The answer is heading **iii** (The theory linking cognitive ability and living in a society). The text suggests that **communal living** and social competition drive the need for a bird to reflect on its own **intentions** and those of others. This social complexity leads to what the author calls a 'political' brain.
- 20. vi
The answer is heading **vi** (How some birds trick each other). The paragraph describes the **deceitful** behavior of young choughs, who pretend to feed chicks or preen them only when **adults are watching**. This behavior is a clear example of how birds 'trick' or manipulate the perceptions of their peers for social status.
- 21. C
The answer is **C** (New Caledonian crows). Paragraph D explains that these specific crows **carry their favourite tool** with them and **store** them for future use. This shows a high level of value and planning regarding their tools, which matches the statement about keeping tools they like.
- 22. B
The answer is **B** (black kites). Paragraph B details how these birds use fire to drive prey out. By dropping a **smouldering stick** to start a fire, they cause small animals to **flee**, effectively 'drawing out' and 'frightening' their prey into the open for easy capture.
- 23. A
The answer is **A** (white-winged choughs). Paragraph B mentions that choughs use **rocks as hammers**. This action is specifically for the purpose of **cracking open** the 'recalcitrant shells' (the outer covering) of shellfish to reach the food inside, matching the requirement of the statement.
- 24. B
The answer is **B** (black kites). Paragraph B describes the sophisticated behavior of **dropping bait** into the water. The bait acts as an attraction for fish, bringing them to the **surface**, which is a clear instance of using food to attract prey.
- 25. C
The answer is **C** (New Caledonian crows). Paragraph E describes an experiment where these crows used a **piece of wire**. The text notes this was 'something they had never seen before,' making it an **unfamiliar material** that they successfully adapted into a tool to retrieve food.
- 26. A
The answer is **A** (white-winged choughs). Paragraph G details how young choughs only perform helping tasks, like preening, when **others are watching**. This 'frantic' activity is done specifically for the **benefit of observers** to maintain social status within the cooperative breeding group.