Animal Intelligence

Question 1

Which statement accurately defines what scientists mean by "tool use" and correctly names two animal species that have been observed doing it?

Accepted Answer

Tool use is when an animal intentionally selects an external object and employs it to solve a problem or get food, like a chimpanzee using a stick to fish for termites and a sea otter using a rock to crack shellfish.

Answer

Tool use is when an animal moves any object to a new place, such as a hermit crab carrying a shell or a penguin pushing a pebble; examples are hermit crabs and penguins.

Answer

Tool use is when an animal eats unusual objects to gain nutrients, for instance beavers gnawing wood and cows chewing grass to obtain calories.

Answer

Tool use is when an animal relies on a body part as a tool, such as a cat using its claws to climb and a dog using its nose to dig.

Question 2

Which list shows four different examples of animal intelligence or complex behavior?

Accepted Answer

Chimpanzees use tools, crows make and use tools, dolphins recognize themselves in mirrors, octopuses solve puzzle boxes to escape.

Answer

Elephants mourn their dead, turtles lay eggs on beaches, bees make honey, wolves hunt in packs.

Answer

Dolphins perform tricks, parrots mimic speech, dogs fetch balls, cats chase mice.

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Sharks swim fast, giraffes eat leaves, ants build anthills, humans read books.

Question 3

Which statement accurately defines an animal’s use of an object to solve a problem and correctly lists two species that have been observed doing this?

Accepted Answer

Tool use happens when an animal picks up something from its surroundings and uses it on something else to get food or solve a problem; chimpanzees use sticks to pull insects out of holes and New Caledonian crows shape twigs to snap up prey.

Answer

Tool use means an animal builds a nest or a den using materials it finds, like beavers cutting down trees to make dams and birds weaving grass for nests.

Answer

Tool use is when an animal uses its own body parts, such as a dolphin slapping its tail to stun fish, and it only occurs in mammals like dolphins and elephants.

Answer

Tool use describes any time an animal moves an object, like a turtle pushing a rock to a sunny spot, and it includes animals such as squirrels storing nuts and wolves hunting in packs.

Try three questions

Which statement accurately defines what scientists mean by "tool use" and correctly names two animal species that have been observed doing it?

Which list shows four different examples of animal intelligence or complex behavior?

Which statement accurately defines an animal’s use of an object to solve a problem and correctly lists two species that have been observed doing this?

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