Question
In popular culture, birds are often considered unintelligent. Research has shown, however, that some birds are quite smart and can learn new things. Crows, magpies, and especially ravens have surprised and impressed scientists with their ability to learn, plan, remember, and problem-solve. Are ravens more intelligent than some mammals? In various areas, it’s possible that they are, and research backers should provide more funding to scientists studying ravens to offer more insight.
Bird intelligence is an area of animal science that needs more research to counteract misconceptions that both laypeople and the scientific community share. Prior to deep scientific investigation, people thought birds were motivated only by genetics, not higher-order thinking, and therefore their actions were robotic in nature. Then in the 1960s, neurologist Stanley Cobb discovered that birds can perform synonymous functions because of an area in their brains called the hyperstriatum. This means they have some level of awareness and can make more complex decisions. Ravens have among the largest brains of any bird species, and it is likely that further investigation of their brain and its functioning would prove their high intelligence. The results might surprise researchers.
Throughout its history, science research has placed emphasis on studying highly intelligent animals such as monkeys and dolphins, believing the results to be beneficial to human knowledge. Prior research has shown that ravens are more intelligent than some of the animals that are more commonly studied in science. For example, at Sweden’s Lund University, animal researchers devised a task where ravens were given a tool to open a box with food inside. Both the tool and the box were then taken away. An hour later, the researchers gave the ravens a choice of objects, one of which was the tool they used to open the box. Eighty percent of the ravens chose the tool, and when presented with the box later, were able to use the tool to open it again. In a trial where the researchers waited seventeen hours to present the tool again, the ravens were successful 90 percent of the time. To adult humans, this might not seem impressive, but monkeys haven’t been able to do this task. The study showed that the ravens outperformed other species in this challenge—something that even surprised researchers who have worked with the birds for many years. Further study could show other skills that may reveal higher intelligence.
Additionally, ravens are valuable research subjects because they exhibit traits that are exceedingly rare in the animal kingdom. Prior research has suggested ravens can learn new tasks that aren’t behaviors they exhibit in the wild. Scientists have taught ravens to barter by exchanging tokens to get food at a later time. The ravens were able to complete the task over 90 percent of the time. Bartering and using tools to open boxes are behaviors that were completely taught by researchers. This suggests that ravens have a general planning ability they can use in new situations, which is rarely seen in animals. Communication is another advanced trait in ravens. Ravens can tell other ravens where a distant food source is located, and they will join forces to retrieve the food and scare off any competitors. Further study is needed to push ravens to the limits of their intelligence and find out their abilities’ deft level.
The more ravens are studied, the more scientists find that they possess skills that demonstrate higher intelligence—skills that are very rare in the animal world. With further study the research might confirm that ravens are not as smart as great apes or monkeys, but that they have incredible abilities that make them more intelligent than most other life on Earth. More research time and funding must be dedicated to the continued study of these amazing creatures to find out which is the case.
Question 16
BOOKMARK
Read the excerpt from the passage.
Prior to deep scientific investigation, people thought birds were motivated only by genetics, not higher-order thinking, and therefore their actions were robotic in nature. (paragraph 2)
How does the author's use the word robotic in this sentence impact the tone and meaning?
A. It shows that scientists thought of birds as natural machines
B. It shows that scientists thought birds were motivated only by food
C. It shows that scientists thought of birds as being unlike other animals
D. It shows that scientists thought birds were incapable of complex thought
Question 17
BOOKMARK
How does the author best develop the idea that ravens might be more intelligent than some mammals in paragraph 3?
A. by demonstrating that ravens can use tools to complete an experiment
B. by describing an experiment in which ravens outperformed mammals
C. by explaining that researchers were able to wait between experiments
D. by showing how successful the ravens were when presented with a task
Question 18
BOOKMARK
Which sentence supports the idea that research has improved scientists’ understanding of bird behavior?
A. “Prior to deep scientific investigation, people thought birds were motivated only by genetics, not higher-order thinking, and therefore their actions were robotic in nature.” (paragraph 2)
B. “Throughout its history, science research has placed emphasis on studying highly intelligent animals such as monkeys and dolphins, believing the results to be beneficial to human knowledge.” (paragraph 3)
C. “Additionally, ravens are valuable research subjects because they exhibit traits that are exceedingly rare in the animal kingdom.” (paragraph 4)
D. “More research time and funding must be dedicated to the continued study of these amazing creatures to find out which is the case.” (paragraph 5)
Question 19
BOOKMARK
How does the author advance the idea that financial support is needed for studying bird intelligence?
A. by showing evidence that birds are more intelligent than other mammals
B. by enhancing public awareness about the scientific research involving ravens
C. by describing the discoveries that scientists have already made by studying birds
D. by comparing the intelligence of ravens to other birds such as crows and magpies
Question 20
BOOKMARK
Which statement describes a central idea in the passage?
A. Research has shown, however, that some birds are quite smart and can learn new things.
B. Additionally, ravens are valuable research subjects because they exhibit traits that are exceedingly rare in the animal kingdom.
C. Throughout its history, science research has placed emphasis on studying highly intelligent animals such as monkeys and dolphins, believing the results to be beneficial to human knowledge.
D. Ravens can tell other ravens where a distant food source is located, and they will join
Question 21
BOOKMARK
Which statement best supports the author's argument about Ravens?
A. "In popular culture, birds are often considered unintelligent."
B. "To adult humans, this might not seem impressive, but monkeys haven't been able to do this task."
C. "Further study is needed to push ravens to the limits of their intelligence and find out their abilities' deft level."
D. "With further study the research might confirm that ravens are not as smart as great apes or monkeys,"
Question 22
BOOKMARK
Which sentence provides the best summary of the passage?
A. Scientists need more funding to analyze bird intelligence.
B. Not much is known about the brain capacity of bird species.
C. Both ravens and dolphins have excellent communication skills.
D. Animal researchers believe ravens to be as intelligent as monkeys.
Question 23
BOOKMARK
Which sentence from the text best supports your answer to the previous question?
A. “Research has shown, however, that some birds are quite smart and can learn new things.” (paragraph 1)
B. "Further study could show other skills that may reveal higher intelligence."(paragraph 3)
C. “Further study is needed to push ravens to the limits of their intelligence and find out their abilities’ deft level.” (paragraph 4)
D. “More research time and funding must be dedicated to the continued study of these amazing creatures to find out which is the case.” (paragraph 5)
Bird intelligence is an area of animal science that needs more research to counteract misconceptions that both laypeople and the scientific community share. Prior to deep scientific investigation, people thought birds were motivated only by genetics, not higher-order thinking, and therefore their actions were robotic in nature. Then in the 1960s, neurologist Stanley Cobb discovered that birds can perform synonymous functions because of an area in their brains called the hyperstriatum. This means they have some level of awareness and can make more complex decisions. Ravens have among the largest brains of any bird species, and it is likely that further investigation of their brain and its functioning would prove their high intelligence. The results might surprise researchers.
Throughout its history, science research has placed emphasis on studying highly intelligent animals such as monkeys and dolphins, believing the results to be beneficial to human knowledge. Prior research has shown that ravens are more intelligent than some of the animals that are more commonly studied in science. For example, at Sweden’s Lund University, animal researchers devised a task where ravens were given a tool to open a box with food inside. Both the tool and the box were then taken away. An hour later, the researchers gave the ravens a choice of objects, one of which was the tool they used to open the box. Eighty percent of the ravens chose the tool, and when presented with the box later, were able to use the tool to open it again. In a trial where the researchers waited seventeen hours to present the tool again, the ravens were successful 90 percent of the time. To adult humans, this might not seem impressive, but monkeys haven’t been able to do this task. The study showed that the ravens outperformed other species in this challenge—something that even surprised researchers who have worked with the birds for many years. Further study could show other skills that may reveal higher intelligence.
Additionally, ravens are valuable research subjects because they exhibit traits that are exceedingly rare in the animal kingdom. Prior research has suggested ravens can learn new tasks that aren’t behaviors they exhibit in the wild. Scientists have taught ravens to barter by exchanging tokens to get food at a later time. The ravens were able to complete the task over 90 percent of the time. Bartering and using tools to open boxes are behaviors that were completely taught by researchers. This suggests that ravens have a general planning ability they can use in new situations, which is rarely seen in animals. Communication is another advanced trait in ravens. Ravens can tell other ravens where a distant food source is located, and they will join forces to retrieve the food and scare off any competitors. Further study is needed to push ravens to the limits of their intelligence and find out their abilities’ deft level.
The more ravens are studied, the more scientists find that they possess skills that demonstrate higher intelligence—skills that are very rare in the animal world. With further study the research might confirm that ravens are not as smart as great apes or monkeys, but that they have incredible abilities that make them more intelligent than most other life on Earth. More research time and funding must be dedicated to the continued study of these amazing creatures to find out which is the case.
Question 16
BOOKMARK
Read the excerpt from the passage.
Prior to deep scientific investigation, people thought birds were motivated only by genetics, not higher-order thinking, and therefore their actions were robotic in nature. (paragraph 2)
How does the author's use the word robotic in this sentence impact the tone and meaning?
A. It shows that scientists thought of birds as natural machines
B. It shows that scientists thought birds were motivated only by food
C. It shows that scientists thought of birds as being unlike other animals
D. It shows that scientists thought birds were incapable of complex thought
Question 17
BOOKMARK
How does the author best develop the idea that ravens might be more intelligent than some mammals in paragraph 3?
A. by demonstrating that ravens can use tools to complete an experiment
B. by describing an experiment in which ravens outperformed mammals
C. by explaining that researchers were able to wait between experiments
D. by showing how successful the ravens were when presented with a task
Question 18
BOOKMARK
Which sentence supports the idea that research has improved scientists’ understanding of bird behavior?
A. “Prior to deep scientific investigation, people thought birds were motivated only by genetics, not higher-order thinking, and therefore their actions were robotic in nature.” (paragraph 2)
B. “Throughout its history, science research has placed emphasis on studying highly intelligent animals such as monkeys and dolphins, believing the results to be beneficial to human knowledge.” (paragraph 3)
C. “Additionally, ravens are valuable research subjects because they exhibit traits that are exceedingly rare in the animal kingdom.” (paragraph 4)
D. “More research time and funding must be dedicated to the continued study of these amazing creatures to find out which is the case.” (paragraph 5)
Question 19
BOOKMARK
How does the author advance the idea that financial support is needed for studying bird intelligence?
A. by showing evidence that birds are more intelligent than other mammals
B. by enhancing public awareness about the scientific research involving ravens
C. by describing the discoveries that scientists have already made by studying birds
D. by comparing the intelligence of ravens to other birds such as crows and magpies
Question 20
BOOKMARK
Which statement describes a central idea in the passage?
A. Research has shown, however, that some birds are quite smart and can learn new things.
B. Additionally, ravens are valuable research subjects because they exhibit traits that are exceedingly rare in the animal kingdom.
C. Throughout its history, science research has placed emphasis on studying highly intelligent animals such as monkeys and dolphins, believing the results to be beneficial to human knowledge.
D. Ravens can tell other ravens where a distant food source is located, and they will join
Question 21
BOOKMARK
Which statement best supports the author's argument about Ravens?
A. "In popular culture, birds are often considered unintelligent."
B. "To adult humans, this might not seem impressive, but monkeys haven't been able to do this task."
C. "Further study is needed to push ravens to the limits of their intelligence and find out their abilities' deft level."
D. "With further study the research might confirm that ravens are not as smart as great apes or monkeys,"
Question 22
BOOKMARK
Which sentence provides the best summary of the passage?
A. Scientists need more funding to analyze bird intelligence.
B. Not much is known about the brain capacity of bird species.
C. Both ravens and dolphins have excellent communication skills.
D. Animal researchers believe ravens to be as intelligent as monkeys.
Question 23
BOOKMARK
Which sentence from the text best supports your answer to the previous question?
A. “Research has shown, however, that some birds are quite smart and can learn new things.” (paragraph 1)
B. "Further study could show other skills that may reveal higher intelligence."(paragraph 3)
C. “Further study is needed to push ravens to the limits of their intelligence and find out their abilities’ deft level.” (paragraph 4)
D. “More research time and funding must be dedicated to the continued study of these amazing creatures to find out which is the case.” (paragraph 5)
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Here are the answers to your questions based on the provided passage:
**Question 16:**
A. It shows that scientists thought of birds as natural machines.
**Question 17:**
B. by describing an experiment in which ravens outperformed mammals.
**Question 18:**
A. “Prior to deep scientific investigation, people thought birds were motivated only by genetics, not higher-order thinking, and therefore their actions were robotic in nature.” (paragraph 2)
**Question 19:**
C. by describing the discoveries that scientists have already made by studying birds.
**Question 20:**
A. Research has shown, however, that some birds are quite smart and can learn new things.
**Question 21:**
C. "Further study is needed to push ravens to the limits of their intelligence and find out their abilities' deft level."
**Question 22:**
A. Scientists need more funding to analyze bird intelligence.
**Question 23:**
D. “More research time and funding must be dedicated to the continued study of these amazing creatures to find out which is the case.” (paragraph 5)
If you have any further questions or need clarification, feel free to ask!
**Question 16:**
A. It shows that scientists thought of birds as natural machines.
**Question 17:**
B. by describing an experiment in which ravens outperformed mammals.
**Question 18:**
A. “Prior to deep scientific investigation, people thought birds were motivated only by genetics, not higher-order thinking, and therefore their actions were robotic in nature.” (paragraph 2)
**Question 19:**
C. by describing the discoveries that scientists have already made by studying birds.
**Question 20:**
A. Research has shown, however, that some birds are quite smart and can learn new things.
**Question 21:**
C. "Further study is needed to push ravens to the limits of their intelligence and find out their abilities' deft level."
**Question 22:**
A. Scientists need more funding to analyze bird intelligence.
**Question 23:**
D. “More research time and funding must be dedicated to the continued study of these amazing creatures to find out which is the case.” (paragraph 5)
If you have any further questions or need clarification, feel free to ask!