📘 Reading Passage 2:
Intelligent Behaviour in Birds
Many people are aware of the
intelligence of chimpanzees and other mammals. However, birds also demonstrate
intelligent behaviour.
Paragraph A
For centuries, many scholars
maintained that humans were the only intelligent organisms on Earth. Many
traits were considered to be exclusively human—examples of cleverness like
language, tool use, awareness of self and others. However, exciting new
research on a number of animals, particularly birds, has challenged these
beliefs, forcing us to reconsider long-held views. In 1994, popular myth
suggested that animals like chimpanzees were the first non-human tool users.
But ornithologists, who study birds, had already witnessed similar intelligent
behaviour, especially among members of the crow family. These birds were found
to be unusually good at using tools to retrieve food from under bark.
Paragraph B
Since then, the list of tool-using
animals has expanded. At least three Australian bird species use tools
similarly to the woodpecker finch, and parrots and crows have been observed
using twigs to remove food from bark. Rooks have recently been added to the
list as well. Some birds use tools in even more creative ways. For example, the
New Caledonian crow has been observed shaping sticks into hooks to extract
insects from crevices, and even storing these tools for later reuse. Other
birds, like bald eagles, may drop sticks on smaller birds, such as puffins, to
harass or drive them away. Herons have also been known to drop sticks on the
surface of water to lure fish.
Paragraph C
Surprisingly, the tool use of some
birds resembles the intelligence seen in primates like chimpanzees and
dolphins. In one experiment, a New Caledonian crow used a small stick to
retrieve a longer stick, which it then used to access food—a complex behaviour
referred to as sequential tool use, something rarely observed in
non-human species. Additionally, some birds frighten prey from hiding places by
poking them with tools.
Paragraph D
New Caledonian crows possess a
diverse collection of tools. They craft hooked tools from leaves and stems, and
adapt twigs to suit different needs. Remarkably, they have even been observed
making tools out of materials they have never encountered before, such as
bending wire into a hook to retrieve food. These birds store their tools in
safe locations and often carry their favourite ones from one foraging site to
the next. Interestingly, they sometimes engage in behaviours seemingly
performed for the benefit of onlookers.
Paragraph E
Literally hundreds of such
behaviours have been documented in scientific journals. A team from McGill
University in Canada recently reviewed many of these reports and concluded that
birds’ intelligence may stem from their cognitive capacity. Studies have shown
that birds with relatively large forebrains—such as finches and robins—tend to
excel in problem-solving, tool-making, and adapting to novel environments.
Paragraph F
Another explanation for birds’ intelligence
is their social structure. Birds that live in complex, communal societies face
challenges that require advanced cognition. These birds must interpret the
intentions of others, engage in cooperation or rivalry, and communicate
effectively. As a result, the pressures of social living may have led to the
development of political-like behaviours in some species.
Paragraph G
Perhaps the best example of such
social intelligence is deception. White-winged choughs, which live in large
family groups consisting of one breeding pair and many helpers, often kidnap
chicks from rival families to raise as their own. Males may pretend to feed
young chicks to impress potential mates. Black kites, on the other hand, have
been observed mimicking calls and spying on competitors. These behaviours,
although deceptive, may increase an individual's chance of reproduction or
survival. In such cases, intelligence serves a clear evolutionary purpose.
📝 Questions 14–20
Reading Passage 2 has seven
paragraphs, A–G.
Choose the correct heading for each paragraph from the list of headings
below.
Write the correct number, i–ix, in boxes 14–20 on your answer sheet.
✅ List of Headings:
i. The theory linking capacity for
tool use in birds and survival
ii. The influence of humans on tool use
iii. The theory linking cognitive ability and living in a society
iv. Reviewing turquetil’s beliefs
v. Intelligence helps birds to find/remember
vi. How some birds trick each other
vii. Physiological evidence of birds’ intelligence
viii. Several examples of birds who use tools
ix. One species’ multiple tool-using techniques
14. Paragraph A
15. Paragraph B
16. Paragraph C
17. Paragraph D
18. Paragraph E
19. Paragraph F
20. Paragraph G
📝 Questions 21–26
Look at the following
statements (Questions 21–26) and the list of birds below.
Match each statement with the correct bird, A, B or C.
Write the correct letter, A, B or C, in boxes 21–26 on your answer sheet.
✅ List of Birds:
A. White-winged choughs
B. Black kites
C. New Caledonian crows
21. Keeping tools that they
like to use
22. Drawing out their prey by frightening it
23. The use of tools to remove the outer covering from food
24. Using tools to attract their prey
25. The use of unfamiliar materials to make tools
26. Engaging in certain activities for the benefit of observers
Here are the extracted answers from the image:
List of Headings (Questions 14–20):
14. iv
15. viii
16. i
17. ix
18. vii
19. iii
20. vi
Multiple Choice (Questions 21–26):
21. C
22. B
23. A
24. B
25. C
26. A
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