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Bài đọc Numeracy: can animals tell numbers? Can animals count IELTS Reading answers
Numeracy: can animals tell numbers? (Can animals count?)
A
Prime among basic numerical faculties is the ability to distinguish between a larger and a smaller, says psychologist Elizabeth Brannon. Humans can do this with ease – providing the ratio is big enough – but do other animals share this ability? In one experiment, rhesus monkeys and university students examined two sets of geometrical objects that appeared briefly on a computer monitor. They had to decide which set contained more objects. Both groups performed successfully but, importantly, Brannon’s team found that monkeys, like humans, make more errors when two sets of objects are close in number. The students’ performance ends up looking just like a monkey’s. It’s practically identical, she says.
B
Humans and monkeys are mammals, in the animal family known as primates. These are not the only animals whose numerical capacities rely on ratio, however. The same seems to apply to some amphibians. Psychologist Claudia Uller’s team tempted salamanders with two sets of fruit flies held in clear tubes. In a series of trials, the researchers noted which tube the salamanders scampered towards, reasoning that if they had a capacity to recognise the number, they would head for the larger number. The salamanders successfully discriminated between tubes containing 8 and 16 flies respectively, but not between 3 and 4, 4 and 6, or 8 and 12. So it seems that for the salamanders to discriminate between two numbers, the larger must be at least twice as big as the smaller. However, they could differentiate between 2 and 3 flies just as well as between 1 and 2 flies, suggesting they recognise small numbers in a different way from larger numbers.
C
Further support for this theory comes from studies of mosquitofish, which instinctively join the biggest shoal they can. A team at the University of Padova found that while mosquitofish can tell the difference between a group containing 3 shoal-mates and a group containing 4, they did not show a preference between groups of 4 and 5. The team also found that mosquitofish can discriminate between numbers up to 16, but only if the ratio between the fish in each shoal was greater than 2:1. This indicates that the fish, like salamanders, possess both the approximate and precise number systems found in more intelligent animals such as infant humans and other primates.
D
While these findings are highly suggestive, some critics argue that the animals might be relying on other factors to complete the tasks, without considering the number itself. ‘Any study that’s claiming an animal is capable of representing number should also be controlling for other factors,’ says Brannon. Experiments have confirmed that primates can indeed perform numerical feats without extra clues, but what about the more primitive animals?
E
To consider this possibility, the mosquitofish tests were repeated, this time using varying geometrical shapes in place of fish. The team arranged these shapes so that they had the same overall surface area and luminance even though they contained a different number of objects. Across hundreds of trials on 14 different fish, the team found they consistently discriminated 2 objects from 3. The team is now testing whether mosquitofish can also distinguish 3 geometric objects from 4.
F
Even more primitive organisms may share this ability. Entomologist Jurgen Tautz sent a group of bees down a corridor, at the end of which lay two chambers – one which contained sugar water, which they like, while the other was empty. To test the bees’ numeracy, the team marked each chamber with a different number of geometrical shapes – between 2 and 6. The bees quickly learned to match the number of shapes with the correct chamber. Like the salamanders and fish, there was a limit to the bees’ mathematical prowess – they could differentiate up to 4 shapes, but failed with 5 or 6 shapes.
G
These studies still do not show whether animals learn to count through training, or whether they are born with the skills already intact. If the latter is true, it would suggest there was a strong evolutionary advantage to a mathematical mind. Proof that this may be the case has emerged from an experiment testing the mathematical ability of three – and four-day-old chicks. Like mosquitofish, chicks prefer to be around as many of their siblings as possible, so they will always head towards a larger number of their kin. If chicks spend their first few days surrounded by certain objects, they become attached to these objects as if they were family. Researchers placed each chick in the middle of a platform and showed it two groups of balls of paper. Next, they hid the two piles behind screens, changed the quantities and revealed them to the chick. This forced the chick to perform simple computations to decide which side now contained the biggest number of its “brothers”. Without any prior coaching, the chicks scuttled to the larger quantity at a rate well above chance. They were doing some very simple arithmetic, claim the researchers.
H
Why these skills evolved is not hard to imagine, since it would help almost any animal forage for food. Animals on the prowl for sustenance must constantly decide which tree has the most fruit, or which patch of flowers will contain the most nectar. There are also other, less obvious, advantages of numeracy. In one compelling example, researchers in America found that female coots appear to calculate how many eggs they have laid – and add any in the nest laid by an intruder – before making any decisions about adding to them. Exactly how ancient these skills are is difficult to determine, however. Only by studying the numerical abilities of more and more creatures using standardised procedures can we hope to understand the basic preconditions for the evolution of number.
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Animal numeracy |
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Subjects |
Experiments |
Results |
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Mammals and birds |
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rhesus monkeys and humans |
looked at two sets of geometrical objects on a computer screen |
Performance of the two groups is almost 1 |
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chicks |
chose between two sets of 2 |
chicks can do calculations in order to choose a larger group |
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coots |
behaviour of female birds was observed |
A bird seems to have ability to 3 |
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salamanders |
offered clear tubes containing different quantities of 4 |
salamanders distinguish between numbers over four if the bigger number is at least two times larger |
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5 |
shown real shoals and later artificial ones of geometrical shapes; these are used to check the influence of total 6 |
subjects know the difference between two and three and possibly three and four, but not between four and five |
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bees |
Had to learn where 7 |
could soon choose the correct place |
Questions 8-13
Do the following statements agree with the information given in Reading Passage?
In boxes 8-13 on your answer sheet, write
TRUE if the statement agrees with the information
FALSE if the statement contradicts the information
NOT GIVEN if these is no information on this
Điểm số của bạn là % - đúng / câu
Đáp án và giải thích đáp án chi tiết Numeracy: Can animals tell numbers? Can animals count IELTS Reading answers
| 1. identical | 5. mosquitofish |
| 2. balls of paper | 6. surface area |
| 3. calculate eggs | 7. sugar water |
| 4. fruits flies | |
| 8. TRUE | 8. TRUE |
| 10. FALSE | 12. NOT GIVEN |
| 11. NOT GIVEN | 13. TRUE |
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Questions 1-7: Table Completion Cách làm: Bước 1: Khoanh tròn giới hạn từ được điền Bước 2: Nghiên cứu Table và xác định loại từ cho mỗi chỗ trống Bước 3: Skim bài đọc để tìm ra những đoạn liên quan chứa đáp án Bước 4: Scan đoạn văn và điền đáp án đúng, chú ý giới hạn từ |
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1. Performance of the two groups is almost _______ Từ cần điền là một tính từ để bổ nghĩa cho “performance of the two groups”. => Dựa vào đoạn A, kết quả giữa sinh viên và khỉ hầu như giống nhau — “practically identical”. Từ này diễn tả sự giống nhau gần như hoàn toàn giữa hai nhóm. Đáp án là “identical” |
Both groups performed successfully but, importantly, Brannon’s team found that monkeys, like humans, make more errors when two sets of objects are close in number. The students’ performance ends up looking just like a monkey’s. It’s practically identical, she says. (passage A) |
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2. chicks chose between two sets of _______ Cần tìm một danh từ/cụm danh từ để đứng sau “two sets of…” => Chicks được cho nhìn 2 nhóm “balls of paper” như anh chị em giả. Đây là các vật thể tượng trưng được sử dụng trong thí nghiệm. Đáp án là “balls of paper” |
If chicks spend their first few days surrounded by certain objects, they become attached to these objects as if they were family. Researchers placed each chick in the middle of a platform and showed it two groups of balls of paper (passage G) |
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3. A bird seems to have ability to _______ Chỗ trống cần được điền bởi một động từ/cụm động từ để hoàn thành cụm “have ability to …” (có khả năng làm gì đấy) => Bài đọc đề cập Chim coot cái dường như có khả năng “tính toán” số trứng. Đáp án là “calculate eggs” |
In one compelling example, researchers in America found that female coots appear to calculate how many eggs they have laid – and add any in the nest laid by an intruder – before making any decisions about adding to them (passage H) |
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4. clear tubes containing different quantities of _______ Cần tìm một danh từ/cụm danh từ để hoàn thành cụm “quantities of …” (số lượng của thứ gì) => Các nhà nghiên cứu đã thử các ống chứa số lượng “fruit flies” để kiểm tra khả năng phân biệt của kỳ nhông. Đáp án là “fruit flies” |
Psychologist Claudia Uller’s team tempted salamanders with two sets of fruit flies held in clear tubes. (passage B) |
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5._____ – shown real shoals and later artificial – subjects know the difference between two and three and possibly three and four Cần tìm một danh từ để đại diện cho loài được nghiên cứu với những đặc điểm phía sau của bảng. => Chủ thể là loài cá “mosquitofish”, dùng trong cả thí nghiệm thật và giả. Đáp án là “mosquitofish” |
Further support for this theory comes from studies of mosquitofish, which instinctively join the biggest shoal they can. A team at the University of Padova found that while mosquitofish can tell the difference between a group containing 3 shoal-mates and a group containing 4, they did not show a preference between groups of 4 and 5. |
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6. these are used to check the influence of total _______ and brightness Cần tìm một danh từ/cụm danh từ để hoàn thiện cụm “total …. and brightness” => Thí nghiệm được lặp lại nhiều lần, nhưng sử dụng nhiều hình học giả có cùng diện tích và độ sáng để loại bỏ yếu tố phụ. Đáp án là “surface area” |
To consider this possibility, the mosquitofish tests were repeated, this time using varying geometrical shapes in place of fish. The team arranged these shapes so that they had the same overall surface area and luminance even though they contained a different number of objects. (passage E) |
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7. Bee had to learn where _______ was stored Từ cần điền là một cụm danh từ để hoàn thành câu => Trong thí nghiệm, Mật ong được đặt trong phòng chứa “sugar water” để kiểm tra trí nhớ của loài ong. Đáp án là “sugar water” |
Entomologist Jurgen Tautz sent a group of bees down a corridor, at the end of which lay two chambers – one which contained sugar water, which they like, while the other was empty. |
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Questions 8 – 13: Dạng YES/NO/NOT GIVEN Cách làm:
Chọn đáp án bằng cách lần lượt trả lời 2 câu hỏi:
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8. Primates are better at identifying the larger of two numbers if one is much bigger than the other.
Cụ thể: => Ở đầu bài đọc đã đề cập việc loài linh trưởng có khả năng nhận diện số lớn hơn trong hai số. Đáp án là “YES” |
Prime among basic numerical faculties is the ability to distinguish between a larger and a smaller, says psychologist Elizabeth Brannon. |
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9. Jurgen Tautz trained the insects in his experiment to recognise the shapes of individual numbers.
Cụ thể: => Jurgen Tautz đã cho loài ong học cách nối số lượng những vật thể với hộp chứa của nó, chứ không phải cách ghi nhớ hình dáng của các con số. Đáp án là “NO” |
To test the bees’ numeracy, the team marked each chamber with a different number of geometrical shapes – between 2 and 6. The bees quickly learned to match the number of shapes with the correct chamber. |
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10. The research involving young chicks took place over two separate days.
Cụ thể: => Trong bài đọc không đề cập tới việc nghiên cứu đã trải qua trong bao nhiêu ngày. Đáp án là “NOT GIVEN” |
Proof that this may be the case has emerged from an experiment testing the mathematical ability of three – and four-day-old chicks. Like mosquitofish, chicks prefer to be around as many of their siblings as possible, so they will always head towards a larger number of their kin. |
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11. The experiment with chicks suggests that some numerical ability exists in newborn animals.
Cụ thể: => Bài đọc nói những nghiên cứu không biết khả năng đếm số ở động vật xuất hiện qua quá trình rèn luyện hay là bản năng từ lúc sinh ra. Sau đó tác giả cũng đã kết luận rằng những nghiên cứu sau này đã chứng minh luận điểm thứ 2 là đúng. Đáp án là “YES” |
These studies still do not show whether animals learn to count through training, or whether they are born with the skills already intact. If the latter is true, it would suggest there was a strong evolutionary advantage to a mathematical mind. Proof that this may be the case has emerged from an experiment testing the mathematical ability of three – and four-day-old chicks. (passage G) |
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12. Researchers have experimented by altering quantities of nectar or fruit available to certain wild animals.
Cụ thể: => Trong bài đọc không đề cập tới việc các nhà nghiên cứu đã thay đổi số lượng mật ngọt hay số quả. Đáp án là “NOT GIVEN” |
Animals on the prowl for sustenance must constantly decide which tree has the most fruit, or which patch of flowers will contain the most nectar. There are also other, less obvious, advantages of numeracy. (passage H) |
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13. When assessing the number of eggs in their nest, coots take into account those of other birds
Cụ thể: => Bài đọc đã đề cập rõ rằng loài coots thường đếm số lượng trứng mà nó đẻ, và kèm vào bất kỳ quả nào được đẻ bởi những con khác… Đáp án là “YES” |
researchers in America found that female coots appear to calculate how many eggs they have laid – and add any in the nest laid by an intruder – before making any decisions about adding to them. |
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