SCIENCE REPORT - Bird Brains

SCIENCE REPORT
–
March 6, 2002: Bird Brains

By George Grow

This is the VOA Special English Science Report.

American scientists have found that some birds are more intelligent than experts had believed. The scientists say
birds have abilities that involve communication and different kinds of memory. In some unusual cases, their
abilities seem better than those of humans.

The findings¹ were presented at the yearly² meeting of the American Association³ for the Advancement⁴ of Science.
The scientists met for six days last month in Boston, Massachusetts.

Irene Pepperberg presented her research about a Grey parrot named Griffin. He lives in her laboratory⁵ at the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.

Mizz Pepperberg says Griffin can arrange objects in order of size. She says the
talking bird also can combine words in the right order. For example, he will
combine words when asking for a piece of food.

The researcher says experts had thought that only humans and other mammals with
large brains have the ability to combine objects and words. She believes that bird
brains have the ability to understand that complex tasks must be done in the correct
order.

Some birds have other memory skills. For example, they collect and store thousands
of seeds in autumn, and find them later in winter.

Alan Kamil (pronounced camel) and Alan Bond⁶ of the University of Nebraska are studying the memories of birds
called jays and nutcrackers. Their experiments suggest that these birds use natural objects to find the seeds they
have stored. They found the birds use at least three objects, such as rocks or trees, to find the stored seeds.

Mister⁷ Kamil also was able to train a jay to choose one object instead of another. The bird used
this skill to receive a prize, such as food. Scientists also say some birds can learn as many as
two-thousand different songs. They say songs may have developed as a way for birds to
communicate with other birds.

Verner Bingman of Bowling⁸ Green State University in Ohio also presented research at the
science meeting in Boston. Mister Bingman believes that birds must have a special guidance
system in their brain. He says that understanding how a bird’s brain operates may help us Blue jay
better understand how a human brain processes information. (A first-class stamp

now costs 34
cents)

This VOA Special English Science Report was written by George Grow.

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Irene Pepperberg with Alex,
Griffin and Arthur

1 findings   

n.发现物( finding的名词复数 )；调查（或研究）的结果；（陪审团的）裁决

参考例句：

• It behoves us to study these findings carefully. 我们理应认真研究这些发现。
• Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。

2 yearly   

adj.每年的，一年一度的；adv.一年一次地

参考例句：

• The flower show is a yearly event in our town.我们镇上的花展一年举行一次。
• The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。

3 association   

n.联盟，协会，社团；交往，联合；联想

参考例句：

• Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
• I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。

4 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

5 laboratory   

n.实验室，化验室

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a laboratory.她捐款成立了一个实验室。
• Our laboratory equipment isn't perfect,but we must make do.实验室设备是不够理想，但我们只好因陋就简。

6 bond   

n.结合，债券，契约，粘合剂，保证人，键，关栈保留；vt.存入关栈，粘着；vi.结合

参考例句：

• This glue makes a good firm bond.这种胶水粘得很结实。
• His word is his bond.他是讲信用的。

7 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

8 bowling   

n.保龄球运动

参考例句：

• Bowling is a popular sport with young and old.保龄球是老少都爱的运动。
• Which sport do you 1ike most,golf or bowling?你最喜欢什么运动，高尔夫还是保龄球？