全新版大学英语综合教程第一册 Unit6

Unit 6
Animal Intelligence

Part I Pre-reading Task

Listen to the recording¹ two or three times and then think over the following questions:
1. What do you know about Michael Jackson?
2. How does he feel about Ben? Why?
3. Do you think the song Ben reveals something about the relationship between man and animals? If so, what is it?
4. Is the song related to the theme of the unit — animal intelligence? How?

Part II

Text A

Food, warmth, sleep? Their thoughts may be much deeper than that.

WHAT ANIMALS REALLY THINK

Euqene Linden

Over the years, I have written extensively about animal-intelligence experiments and the controversy² that surrounds them. Do animals really have thoughts, what we call consciousness? Wondering whether there might be better ways to explore animal intelligence than experiments designed to teach human signs, I realized what now seems obvious: if animals can think, they will probably do their best thinking when it serves their own purposes, not when scientists ask them to.
And so I started talking to vets⁴, animal researchers, zoo keepers. Most do not study animal intelligence, but they encounter it, and the lack of it, every day. The stories they tell us reveal what I'm convinced is a new window on animal intelligence: the kind of mental feats⁵ animals perform when dealing⁶ with captivity⁷ and the dominant⁸ species on the planet — humans.

Let's Make a Deal
Consider the time Charlene Jendry, a conservationist at the Columbus Zoo, learned that a female gorilla⁹ named Colo was handling a suspicious object. Arriving on the scene, Jendry offered Colo some peanuts, only to be met with a blank stare. Realizing they were negotiating, Jendry raised the stakes and offered a piece of pineapple. At this point, while maintaining eye contact, Colo opened her hand and revealed a key chain.
Relieved it was not anything dangerous or valuable, Jendry gave Colo the pineapple. Careful bargainer that she was, Colo then broke the key chain and gave Jendry a link, perhaps figuring. Why give her the whole thing if I can get a bit of pineapple for each piece?
If an animal can show skill in trading one thing for another, why not in handling money? One orangutan named Chantek did just that in a sign-language study undertaken by anthropologist¹⁰ Lyn Miles at the University of Tennessee. Chantek figured out that if he did tasks like cleaning his room, he'd earn coins to spend on treats and rides in Miles's car. But the orangutan's understanding of money seemed to extend far beyond simple dealings. Miles first used plastic chips as coins, but Chantek decided¹¹ he could expand the money supply by breaking chips in two. When Miles switched to metal chips, Chantek found pieces of tin foil and tried to make copies.
Miles also tried to teach Chantek more virtuous¹² habits such as saving and sharing. Indeed, when I caught up with the orangutan at Zoo Atlanta, where he now lives, I saw an example of sharing that anyone might envy. When Miles gave Chantek some grapes and asked him to share them, Chantek promptly¹³ ate all the fruit. Then, as if he'd just remembered he'd been asked to share, he handed Miles the stem.

Tale of a Whale
Why would an animal want to cooperate with a human? Behaviorists would say that animals cooperate when they learn it is in their interest to do so. This is true, but I don't think it goes far enough.
Gail Laule, a consultant¹⁴ on animal behavior, speaks of Orky, a killer¹⁵ whale, she knew. "Of all the animals I've worked with, he was the most intelligent," she says. "He would assess a situation and then do something based on the judgments¹⁷ he made."
Like the time he helped save a family member. When Orky's mate, Corky, gave birth, the baby did not thrive at first, and keepers took the little whale out of the tank by stretcher for emergency care. Things began to go wrong when they returned the baby whale to the tank. As the workers halted the stretcher a few meters above the water, the baby suddenly began throwing up through its mouth. The keepers feared it would choke, but they could not reach the baby to help it.
Apparently¹⁸ sizing up the problem, Orky swam under the stretcher and allowed one of the men to stand on his head, something he'd never been trained to do. Then, using his tail to keep steady, Orky let the keeper reach up and release the 420-pound baby so that it could slide into the water within reach of help.

Primate¹⁹ Shell Game
Sometimes evidence of intelligence can be seen in attempts to deceive. Zoo keeper Helen Shewman of Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo recalls that one day she dropped an orange through a feeding hole for Melati, an orangutan. Instead of moving away to get it, Melati looked Shewman in the eye and held out her hand. Thinking the orange must have rolled off somewhere inaccessible²⁰, Shewman gave her another one. But when Melati moved off, Shewman noticed the original orange was hidden in her other hand.
Towan, the colony's dominant male, watched this whole trick, and the next day he, too, looked Shewman in the eye and pretended that he had not yet received an orange. "Are you sure you don't have one?" Shewman asked. He continued to hold her gaze steadily²¹ and held out his hand. Giving in, she gave him another one, then saw that he had been hiding his orange underneath²² his foot.
What is intelligence anyway? If life is about survival of a species — and intelligence is meant to serve that survival — then we can't compare with pea-brained sea turtles, which were here long before us and survived the disaster that wiped out the dinosaurs²⁴. Still, it is comforting to realize that other species besides our own can stand back and assess the world around them, even if their horizons are more limited than ours.
(928 words)

New Words and Expressions

extensively
ad. to a large extent, or in a large amount 广泛地；大量地

intelligence
n. 智力

intelligent
a. 聪明的，有才智的

controversy
n. 争论，争议

surround
vt. be or go all around (sth. or sb.) 围绕；包围

consciousness
n. 意识

explore
vt. examine thoroughly²⁵, learn about 探究，探索

obvious
a. easy to see and understand; clear 明显的

vet³
n. 兽医

encounter
vt. meet, esp. unexpectedly 遇到，遭遇

reveal
vt. make (sth.) known 展示；揭露

convince
vt. make (sb.) feel sure by the use of argument or evidence 使确信，使信服

feat▲
n. 技艺；业绩，功绩

captivity
n. 被俘；监禁；束缚

dominant
a. ruling; most important or strongest 统治的；占优势的

species
n. （单复同）物种

make a deal
reach an agreement or arrangement, esp. in business or politics 达成交易

conservationist
n. 自然资源保护论者

female
a. 雌的；女（性）的
n. 雌性的动物或植物；女人

gorilla
n. 大猩猩

suspicious▲
a. causing or showing a feeling that sth. is wrong 可疑的；猜疑的

peanut▲
n. 花生

blank
a. without expression; without writing, or other marks 没有表情的；空白

negotiate
vi. discuss in order to come to an agreement 谈判，协商

stake
n. (usu.pl) 奖品；奖金；赌注

pineapple
n. 凤梨，菠萝

maintain
vt. continue to do or have (sth.) 保持；继续

relieve
vt. free (sb.) from pain, anxiety, etc.; ease (pain, anxiety, etc.) 使减轻痛苦或焦虑等；减轻（痛苦或焦虑等）

link
n. 链环；环节；联系
v. join or connect 联系，连接

orangutan
n. 猩猩

undertake
vt. (undertook, undertaken) carry out; take upon oneself (a task, etc.) 从事；承担（任务等）

anthropologist
n. 人类学者

figure out
understand; reason out 理解；推断出

extend
v. (cause to) stretch or reach; make larger or longer 延伸，伸展；扩大；加长

dealing
n. (usu.pl) business relations 交易，买卖

plastic
a. 塑料的

chip
n. 薄片；碎片；集成电路片

expand
v. (cause to) grow larger 扩大，扩展

switch
v. change; shift 转换，变换

foil▲
n. 金属薄片，箔

virtuous
a. showing moral goodness 有道德的；善良的

envy
vt., n. 妒忌；羡慕

grape
n. 葡萄

promptly
ad. immediately 立即地

stem
n. 茎，（树）干，（叶）梗

whale
n. 鲸

cooperate
vi. act or work together 合作，协作

behaviorist
n. 行为主义者

in sb.'s interest(s)
to sb.'s advantage 为了某人的利益

go far
help very much; achieve much success 帮助很大；很有成效

consultant
n. 顾问

behavior
n. the way one acts or behaves 举止，行为

assess
vt. judge the quality, importance or worth of 评估，估量

judgment¹⁶
n. 判断；意见，看法

mate
n. 配偶；伙伴，同事

thrive
vi. grow strong and healthy; develop well 茁壮成长；兴旺

at first
at the beginning 起先

stretcher
n. 担架

emergency
n. an unexpected and dangerous happening which must be dealt with at once 紧急情况；突然事件

go wrong
stop developing well 有毛病，出故障

halt
v. (cause to) stop 停住，停止

throw up
(infml) vomit²⁶ 呕吐

apparently
ad. it is clear (that) 明显地

size up
carefully examine (a situation or person) in order to make a judgement 估量，判断

release
vt. set free 释放

slide
v. (cause to) move smoothly²⁷ along a surface （使）滑动

primate
n. 灵长目动物

evidence
n. sth. that gives a reason for believing sth.; trace 证据；迹象

deceive
v. try to make(sb.) believe sth. that is false 欺骗

inaccessible
a. very difficult or impossible to reach 达不到的；难得到的

original
a. first or earliest 最初的；原始的

colony
n. （生长在同一地方的动物或植物）群，群体；殖民地

male
n. 雄性动物或植物；男子
a. 雄的；男（性）的

gaze
n., v. 凝视，注视

give in
让步；屈服；投降

underneath
prep., ad. under or below 在…下面，在…底下

pea-brained
a. 笨的

turtle
n. （海）龟

survive
v. remain alive in spite of; continue to live or exist after 幸免于；继续存在，幸存

survival n.

disaster
n. an event causing great suffering and damage 灾难

wipe out
get rid of or destroy 消灭，消除

dinosaur²³
n. 恐龙

horizon
n. 眼界，见识；地平线

Proper Names

Ugene Linden
尤金·林登

Charlene Jendry
查伦·延德里

Columbus Zoo
哥伦布动物园

Colo
科洛（文中指动物名）

Chantek
夏特克（文中指动物名）

Lyn Miles
琳·迈尔斯

University of Tennessee
田纳西大学

Zoo Atlanta
亚特兰大动物园

Gail Laule
盖尔·劳尔

Orky
奥基（文中指动物名）

Corky
科基（文中指动物名）

Helen Shewman
海伦·休曼

Seattle
西雅图（美国华盛顿州西部港市）

Woodland Park Zoo
伍德兰公园动物园

Melati
梅拉蒂（文中指动物名）

Towan
托温（文中指动物名）

1 recording   

n.录音，记录

参考例句：

• How long will the recording of the song take?录下这首歌得花多少时间？
• I want to play you a recording of the rehearsal.我想给你放一下彩排的录像。

2 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

3 vet   

n.兽医，退役军人；vt.检查

参考例句：

• I took my dog to the vet.我把狗带到兽医诊所看病。
• Someone should vet this report before it goes out.这篇报道发表之前应该有人对它进行详查。

4 vets   

abbr.veterans （复数）老手，退伍军人；veterinaries （复数）兽医n.兽医( vet的名词复数 )；老兵；退伍军人；兽医诊所v.审查（某人过去的记录、资格等）( vet的第三人称单数 )；调查；检查；诊疗

参考例句：

• I helped train many young vets and veterinary nurses too. 我还帮助培训了许多年青的兽医和护士。 来自互联网
• In fact, we've expanded mental health counseling and services for our vets. 实际上，我们已经扩大了退伍军人的心理健康咨询和服务。 来自互联网

5 feats   

功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He used to astound his friends with feats of physical endurance. 过去，他表现出来的惊人耐力常让朋友们大吃一惊。
• His heroic feats made him a legend in his own time. 他的英雄业绩使他成了他那个时代的传奇人物。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

7 captivity   

n.囚禁；被俘；束缚

参考例句：

• A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
• He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。

8 dominant   

adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因

参考例句：

• The British were formerly dominant in India.英国人从前统治印度。
• She was a dominant figure in the French film industry.她在法国电影界是个举足轻重的人物。

9 gorilla   

n.大猩猩，暴徒，打手

参考例句：

• I was awed by the huge gorilla.那只大猩猩使我惊惧。
• A gorilla is just a speechless animal.猩猩只不过是一种不会说话的动物。

10 anthropologist   

n.人类学家，人类学者

参考例句：

• The lecturer is an anthropologist.这位讲师是人类学家。
• The anthropologist unearthed the skull of an ancient human at the site.人类学家在这个遗址挖掘出那块古人类的颅骨。

11 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

12 virtuous   

adj.有品德的，善良的，贞洁的，有效力的

参考例句：

• She was such a virtuous woman that everybody respected her.她是个有道德的女性，人人都尊敬她。
• My uncle is always proud of having a virtuous wife.叔叔一直为娶到一位贤德的妻子而骄傲。

13 promptly   

adv.及时地，敏捷地

参考例句：

• He paid the money back promptly.他立即还了钱。
• She promptly seized the opportunity his absence gave her.她立即抓住了因他不在场给她创造的机会。

14 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

15 killer   

n.杀人者，杀人犯，杀手，屠杀者

参考例句：

• Heart attacks have become Britain's No.1 killer disease.心脏病已成为英国的头号致命疾病。
• The bulk of the evidence points to him as her killer.大量证据证明是他杀死她的。

16 judgment   

n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见

参考例句：

• The chairman flatters himself on his judgment of people.主席自认为他审视人比别人高明。
• He's a man of excellent judgment.他眼力过人。

17 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

18 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

19 primate   

n.灵长类（目）动物，首席主教；adj.首要的

参考例句：

• 14 percent of primate species are highly endangered.14%的灵长类物种处于高度濒危状态。
• The woolly spider monkey is the largest primate in the Americas.绒毛蛛猴是美洲最大的灵长类动物。

20 inaccessible   

adj.达不到的，难接近的

参考例句：

• This novel seems to me among the most inaccessible.这本书对我来说是最难懂的小说之一。
• The top of Mount Everest is the most inaccessible place in the world.珠穆朗玛峰是世界上最难到达的地方。

21 steadily   

adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地

参考例句：

• The scope of man's use of natural resources will steadily grow.人类利用自然资源的广度将日益扩大。
• Our educational reform was steadily led onto the correct path.我们的教学改革慢慢上轨道了。

22 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

23 dinosaur   

n.恐龙

参考例句：

• Are you trying to tell me that David was attacked by a dinosaur?你是想要告诉我大卫被一支恐龙所攻击？
• He stared at the faithful miniature of the dinosaur.他凝视著精确的恐龙缩小模型。

24 dinosaurs   

n.恐龙( dinosaur的名词复数 )；守旧落伍的人，过时落后的东西

参考例句：

• The brontosaurus was one of the largest of all dinosaurs. 雷龙是所有恐龙中最大的一种。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years. 恐龙绝种已有几百万年了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

25 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

26 vomit   

v.呕吐，作呕；n.呕吐物，吐出物

参考例句：

• They gave her salty water to make her vomit.他们给她喝盐水好让她吐出来。
• She was stricken by pain and began to vomit.她感到一阵疼痛，开始呕吐起来。

27 smoothly   

adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地

参考例句：

• The workmen are very cooperative,so the work goes on smoothly.工人们十分合作，所以工作进展顺利。
• Just change one or two words and the sentence will read smoothly.这句话只要动一两个字就顺了。