Tool Use by Capuchin Monkeys
Capuchin monkeys are medium-size primates native to the forests of Central America and northern South America. Although these monkeys are impressive users of tools in captive settings, we have little evidence of their systematic use of tools when in the wild. Researchers have commented on this puzzling contrast by noting that capuchins have not been studied in the wild as extensively as other primates such as apes and that their more arboreal (tree-based) lifestyle limits their opportunities to use tools compared with apes. In the trees. their hands are more often needed for support; moreover, loose objects that could be used as tools are less available and less easily set aside and retrieved. and stable, strong and appropriately shaped supporting surfaces are less available in the trees than on the ground. Imagine pounding a round nut on a log or stone that rests solidly on the ground. Then imagine the same activity while sitting in a tree and pounding the nut on a sloping tree branch. Finally, activities carried out high in the forest canopy are more difficult for terrestrial humans to see than activities occurring on the ground.
1.Paragraph 1 supports which of the following statements about tool use among apes?
A.In captive settings, apes use tools more than capuchins do
B.Apes use tools while in trees less often than capuchins do
C.Apes use tools in the wild more than they do in captive settings.
D.Apes’ ground-dwelling lifestyle makes it easier for them to use tools.
2.In paragraph 1, the author asks the reader to imagine pounding a nut while on the ground and then to imagine pounding a nut while sitting in a tree in order to emphasize the point that
A.the same task done in different settings can require different tools
B.an arboreal lifestyle reduces the opportunities for tool use
C.capuchins are extremely skillful tool users
D.tool use in trees is harder for humans to observe than tool use on the ground
All of these are plausible explanations for the rarity of observations of tool use in wild capuchins. However, although arboreality may limit opportunities for capuchins to use tools or for us to observe such activity. we know that chimpanzees and orangutans do sometimes use tools in trees. Thus arboreality alone does not preclude tool use. Instead. we must consider what aspects of capuchins’ behavior and ecology might support the discovery of how to use an object as a tool in the wild. This consideration might suggest other ways we can look for tool use in wild capuchins and help us to understand why we observe it more often in captive monkeys.
3.The word “plausible” in the passage is closest in meaning to A.believable
B.correct
C.interesting
D.partial
4.The function of paragraph 2 in the passage is to
A.provide evidence that chimpanzees and orangutans use tools in trees more often than capuchins do
B.challenge arboreality as an adequate explanation for why we do not often see wild capuchins use tools
C.suggest that tool use in captive capuchins can help us understand the behavior of wild capuchins
D.explain how the behavior and ecology of capuchins influence their tool use
One can turn the question around and ask why we see tool use at all in
capuchin monkeys. ▉Like other pr sensory and anatomical characteristics for using objects as tools. ▉They have
a well-articulated hand with anatomical adaptations that favor the fine
manipulation or precise positioning of objects, and they have sufficiently long
limbs, postural control, and strength to generate considerable forces (when
pounding, for example). ▉This, howeve other monkeys, especially those in Africa and Asia, although all other monkeys
use tools less often than capuchins. ▉
5.The word “sufficiently” in the passage is closest in meaning to A.especially
B.adequately
C.naturally
D.surprisingly
Capuchins possess two behavioral characteristics that are less widely shared with other primates and that are particularly relevant to using objects as tools. First, although using a tool is an individual endeavor, it is acquired more readily in socially supportive contexts where experts tolerate novices nearby, and capuchins are relatively tolerant of one another, particularly adults of youngsters. Second, and fundamental for the discovery of tool use, capuchins generate a great variety of explorative and manipulative behaviors that involve acting with objects and on surfaces. Capuchins reliably spontaneously combine objects with surfaces and with each other by pounding and rubbing; they also insert their hands and objects in holes and crevices. When captive capuchins encounter objects they consider benign, whether novel or familiar, they quickly approach, explore and manipulate them with enthusiastic interest. Their interest towards objects persists over time, even towards familiar objects. Although wild capuchins initially often avoid novel objects, they explore and manipulate familiar objects and substrates (layers of soil that a plant or animal uses for support) persistently, and routinely engage in many actions. This can allow them to discover the consequences of actions combining objects and surfaces
6.Which of the sentences below best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in the passage? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.
A.Using a tool is an individual endeavor that is acquired in capuchin communities where expert adults tolerate novices nearby.
B.Capuchins live in socially supportive contexts because they are relatively tolerant of one another, particularly adults of youngsters
C.It is easier for individuals to develop the ability to use tools in a supportive society in which experts accept novices. as is the case with capuchins D.Capuchins are relatively tolerant of one another, particularly adults of youngsters, and this creates socially supportive contexts
7.According to paragraph 4, one characteristic of capuchins that facilitates discovery of how to use objects as tools is
A.their ability to reliably distinguish benign objects from potentially dangerous ones
B.their general interest in the characteristics of objects and surfaces
C.their tendency to be far more interested in novel objects and surfaces than familiar ones
D.their tendency to rapidly switch their attention from one object or surface to another
All of these behavioral characteristics make it likely that a capuchin monkey upon encountering an interesting set of objects or an interesting surface with loose objects available, and with the motivation, time and security to investigate will produce actions with objects on surfaces. Tool use relies upon perception/action routines (e.g.., pounding, inserting) that are applied to virtually any set of objects and surfaces they encounter. As a routine behavior, the monkey may occasionally combine one object or surface with another object, and so discover that using an object helps it achieve some goal. This scenario is sufficient to support the frequent discovery of tool use by captive capuchins, but one can see that it might not occur as often in natural settings.
8.Paragraph 5 suggests that capuchins may use tools in captivity more often than they do in the wild because captive capuchins
A.have more time and security than wild capuchins do
B.encounter more interesting objects than wild capuchins do
C.have fewer goals than wild capuchins do
D.encounter a wider variety of surfaces than wild capuchins do
9.Look at the four squares [ ▇] that indicate be added to the passage. Where would the sentence best fit?
So, what makes capuchins different?
One can turn the question around and ask why we see tool use at all in capuchin monkeys. ▉Like other primates, capuchins possess the necessary sensory and anatomical characteristics for using objects as tools.▉They have a well-articulated hand with anatomical adaptations that favor the fine manipulation or precise positioning of objects, and they have sufficiently long limbs, postural control, and strength to generate considerable forces (when pounding, for example).▉This, however, does not distinguish them from most other monkeys, especially those in Africa and Asia, although all other monkeys use tools less often than capuchins.▉
10.Directions: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the 3 answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Some sentences do not belong in the summary because they express ideas that are not presented in the passage or are minor ideas in the passage. (This question is worth 2 points.) Drag your choices to the spaces where they belong. To review the passage, click on view text.
Capuchin monkeys often use tools in captive settings but there is little evidence that they use tools in the wild.
A.Capuchins are so well-adapted to arboreal life that it is just as easy for them to perform certain actions on a sloping branch as it is for terrestrial monkeys to perform the same actions on solid ground.
B.Wild capuchins’ arboreal lifestyle may limit their opportunities to use tools, but studies of other primates show that arboreality alone does not prevent tool use.
C.Given certain freedoms and protections in captivity, capuchins investigate by pounding, rubbing, and inserting objects, enabling them to discover that using an object can help them reach a goal.
D.Capuchins have certain physical characteristics that are not found in apes, which partly explains why capuchins use tools more than chimpanzees and orangutans.
E.Captive capuchins use tools more than other monkeys that are physically well adapted for tool use because capuchins are socially supportive and are naturally curious about objects
答案：
