Can animals talk? We know that parrots and some other birds can imitate sounds. Alex, an African grey parrot who lives in Boston, can say eighty different words. However, most scientists believe that parrots cannot understand language.
In the 1960s scientists in America tried to teach chimpanzees to talk. They soon realized that the animals did not have the right kind of vocal organs. In 1966, scientists started teaching American Sign Language (ASL) to a one-year-old chimp called Washoe. Deaf people use ASL and use signs instead of sounds. Four years later, Washoe knew 132 words. The majority of these words were nouns or verbs. Most importantly, she and other chimps could put signs together to communicate ideas, like ‘want food’ and ‘time drink.’ Washoe even worked out how to put ‘dirty’ in front of people’s names when she was angry with them.
In 1972, Dr Francine Patterson started working with a baby gorilla, called Koko. Koko eventually learned about 1,600 different words. Dr Patterson used to teach Koko sign language with children’s picture books. Koko’s favourite story was ‘The Three Kittens.’ She used to look at it on her own and sign to herself. Every year Koko had a birthday party. When Dr. Patterson asked her what a birthday was, Koko signed: ‘Eat-drink-get old.’ One year she signed to Koko, ‘What present do you want for your birthday?’ Koko signed back, ‘Cat.’
Dr Patterson bought her a toy cat, but Koko became very angry.
Six months later, a friend turned up with some kittens. Koko wanted one. She signed, ‘Love that.’ She picked out a kitten without a tail and even chose the kitten’s name, Ball. She looked after Ball like a baby and spent hours cleaning it and playing games. Ball was a very aggressive little cat and often bit Koko. But she never struck the kitten back.
The next December a car ran over Ball. Koko was very distressed. Later, when somebody signed, ‘What happened to your cat?’ Koko replied, ‘Sleep Ball.’ Dr Patterson tried hard to find Koko another kitten. Koko wanted one without a tail. At last, she found a tailless kitten and handed him over to Koko. She kissed him and held him in her arms. ‘Baby,’ he signed.
Animal Communication – Comprehension
Read the passage “Animal Communication” carefully and answer these questions.
Q 1. What can parrots do? What do most scientists believe?
Ans._________________________________________________________________________________
Q 2. Why could scientists not teach chimpanzees to talk?
Ans._________________________________________________________________________________
Q 3. What type of language was taught to Washoe?
Ans._________________________________________________________________________________
Q 4. What did Dr Patterson bring Koko as a gift? Why was Koko angry?
Ans._________________________________________________________________________________
Q 5. What was Koko’s favourite story? How do you know?
Ans._________________________________________________________________________________
Q 6. Find the words in the passage which mean:
- People who are unable to hear-________________
- A person who has studied or is an expert in Science-________________
Q 7. Fill in the blanks.
- ASL stands for ______________________.
- Koko was a baby ______________________.
- Koko learned about ___________________ different words.
Q 8. Write True or False.
- Washoe knew 1000 different words after four years. ( )
- A car ran over Ball and she died. ( )
- Alex, a grey parrot could say 80 different words. ( )