新托福听写训练 第8期

P:All right, Jenison and Clod have been assigned read part of our discussion today on animal cognition. Are you both ready?

W: Well, Clod and I looked into at the tool making ability of wild animals, and we came across an article about how a scientist named Gavin Hunt has claimed to discover a breed of crows with superior tool making abilities. He claims that the tools these birds make are different from the tools that other animals make in several ways. For one thing, the crows make different types of tools for different situations. Also, the tools are very sophisticated, for example, they design tools with hooks which they used when they are looking for food. And third, Ah, Clod, what was the third thing?

M: He claims that such the crows may actually intentionally¹ modify their tools to a specific shape before using them. Other animals like sea otters² do due use stone to pound open the shell of crab³ and other prey⁴. And chimpanzees have been observed have puzzle be modifying

leaves to use as umbrellas. But these activities don't meet all three criteria⁵ for planned tool making.

W: Yeah, and these crows even keep track of their tools when they change hunting site. For example, they generously take their tools with them and when they eat they usually hold onto their tools with their feet.

P:Interesting! And what is the significance of Hunt's study?

M: Well, some scientists argued that the crows may have been born with this behavior. But if Hunt can prove that they really do intentionally modify their tools, their behavior will be

measurably different from that of other animals and could be considered cognitive⁶.

W: Right, no other wild animal has this ability to design, make, and standardize⁷ tools. This ability was thought stopped to be unique to human.

1 intentionally   

ad.故意地，有意地

参考例句：

• I didn't say it intentionally. 我是无心说的。
• The local authority ruled that he had made himself intentionally homeless and was therefore not entitled to be rehoused. 当地政府裁定他是有意居无定所，因此没有资格再获得提供住房。

2 otters   

n.（水）獭( otter的名词复数 )；獭皮

参考例句：

• An attempt is being made to entice otters back to the river. 人们正试图把水獭引诱回河里去。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Otters are believed to have been on Earth for 90 million years. 水獭被认为存活在地球上已经9千多万年。 来自互联网

3 crab   

n.螃蟹，偏航，脾气乖戾的人，酸苹果；vi.捕蟹，偏航，发牢骚；vt.使偏航，发脾气

参考例句：

• I can't remember when I last had crab.我不记得上次吃蟹是什么时候了。
• The skin on my face felt as hard as a crab's back.我脸上的皮仿佛僵硬了，就象螃蟹的壳似的。

4 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

5 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

6 cognitive   

adj.认知的，认识的，有感知的

参考例句：

• As children grow older,their cognitive processes become sharper.孩子们越长越大，他们的认知过程变得更为敏锐。
• The cognitive psychologist is like the tinker who wants to know how a clock works.认知心理学者倒很像一个需要通晓钟表如何运转的钟表修理匠。

7 standardize   

v.使符合标准，使标准化

参考例句：

• We will extend and standardize legal services and provide effective legal aid.拓展和规范法律服务，积极开展法律援助。
• There is a drive both to standardise components and to reduce the number of models on offer.正在为实现零部件标准化和减少推出的型号数量而努力。