阅读下列短文,从每题所给的四个选项(A、B、C和D)中,选出最佳选项。
Researchers say they have translated the meaning of gestures that wild chimpanzees(黑猩猩)use to communicate. They say wild chimps communicate 19 specific messages to one another with a "vocabulary" of 66 gestures. The scientists discovered this by following and filming groups of chimps in Uganda, and examining more than 5,000 incidents of these meaningful exchanges.
Dr Catherine Hobaiter, who led the research,
said that this was the only form of intentional communication to be recorded in
the animal kingdom. Only humans and chimps, she said, had a system of communication
where they deliberately sent a message to another group member.
"That's what's so amazing about chimp
gestures," she said. "They're the only thing that looks like human language
in that respect."
Although previous research has shown that
apes and monkeys can understand complex information from another animal's call,
the animals do not appear to use their voices intentionally to communicate messages.
This was a significant difference between calls and gestures, Dr Hobaiter said.
Chimps will check to see if they have the attention of the animal with which they wish to communicate. In one case, a mother presents her foot to her crying baby, signalling: "Climb on me." The youngster immediately jumps on to its mother's back and they travel off together. "The big message from this study is that there is another species(物种)out there that is meaningful in its communication, so that's not unique to humans," said Dr Hobaiter.
Dr Susanne Shultz, an evolutionary biologist
from the University of Manchester, said the study was praiseworthy in seeking to
enrich our knowledge of the evolution of human language. But, she added, the results
were "a little disappointing".
"The vagueness of the gesture meanings
suggests either that the chimps have little to communicate, or we are still missing
a lot of the information contained in their gestures and actions," she said.
"Moreover, the meanings seem to not go beyond what other animals convey with
non-verbal communication. So, it seems the gulf remains."
(1)
What do chimps and humans have in common according to Dr Hobaiter?
A . Using voices to communicate.
B . Understanding complex information.
C . Memorizing specific words.
D . Communicating messages on purpose.
(2)
What did Dr Shultz think of the study?
A . It was inspiring but the evidence was unreliable.
B . It was a good try but the findings were limited.
C . It was well designed but poorly conducted.
D . It was a failure but the methods deserved praise.
(3)
What does the underlined word "gulf" in the last paragraph mean?
A . Difference.
B . Connection.
C . Conflict.
D . Balance.
(4)
Which of the following is the best title for the text?
A . Chimpanzees developed specific communication skills
B . Chimpanzee behaviour study achieved a breakthrough
C . Chimpanzees: the smartest species in the animal kingdom
D . Chimpanzee language: communication gestures translated
答案: D
B
A
D