【英语时差8,16】狒狒和抽象思维

On this Moment of Science Yael and Don discuss some interesting findings about baboons¹.   Y: That film about climbing Mount Everest was pretty amazing. Have you ever thought about doing something like that, Don?

D: Are you crazy? The day I think about climbing Mount Everest will be the day they prove that humans aren't that much different from baboons.

Y: Oh yeah? Well what if I told you that scientists have recently made discoveries that suggest baboons are capable of abstract thought?

D: I thought that only apes, the actual evolutionary² predecessors³ of humans, could think abstractly. For instance, I know chimpanzees have demonstrated abstract thought. But baboons are on a whole different limb of the evolutionary tree. They're part of a group that split 30 million years ago from the group that gave rise to apes and  humans.

Y: You're right, Don, except that now it seems that apes and humans may not be the only creatures with the ability for abstract thought. Two baboons have been trained to use analogical reasoning; that is, they can identify that this is to this as that is to that. Many theorists believe analogical reasoning to be the foundation of human  intelligence. Though these baboons aren't nearly as good at it as humans are, it's a discovery that nonetheless changes how we think about our relationship to the rest of  the animal world.

D: I guess that means I'll have to change my earlier statement. The day I think about  climbing Mount Everest will be the day baboons fly to the moon. You think that will  do it?

Y: You never can tell, Don.   

1 baboons   

n.狒狒( baboon的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Baboons could break branches and leaders. 狒狒会折断侧枝和顶梢。 来自辞典例句
• And as nonprimates, they provoke fewer ethical and safety-related concerns than chimps or baboons. 而且作为非灵长类，就不会产生像用黑猩猩或狒狒那样的伦理和安全方面的顾虑。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 医学的第四次革命

2 evolutionary   

adj.进化的；演化的，演变的；[生]进化论的

参考例句：

• Life has its own evolutionary process.生命有其自身的进化过程。
• These are fascinating questions to be resolved by the evolutionary studies of plants.这些十分吸引人的问题将在研究植物进化过程中得以解决。

3 predecessors   

n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 )；前辈；（被取代的）原有事物；前身

参考例句：

• The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗？ 来自《简明英汉词典》