The Intelligence Of Corvids Ielts Reading Answers Extra Quality Now
Scrub-jays use a cognitive ability known as ________ to recall the spatial locations and conditions of their hidden food. Questions 10–13
Paragraph C explains that to prevent theft, if a scrub jay notices another bird watching, it will "dig up the cache and rehide it elsewhere." It notes this shows the ability to attribute "intent to others," which directly aligns with anticipating deceptive intentions.
The Myth of the 'Bird Brain'For generations, the phrase "bird brain" was used as a derogatory term to describe someone of low intelligence. This insult was rooted in early anatomical studies which revealed that birds lack a cerebral cortex—the layered structure in mammalian brains responsible for high-level cognition. However, modern neuroscientists discovered that corvids possess a densely packed cluster of neurons known as the nidopallium caudolaterale (NCL). The NCL functions analogously to the mammalian prefrontal cortex, acting as the command center for executive functions, decision-making, and working memory. Gram for gram, a crow’s brain has a neuron density that rivals or exceeds that of many primates, enabling complex information processing within a highly compact space.
1. Paragraph A: iii (Overturning long-held misconceptions about avian brains)
Do the following statements agree with the information given in the Reading Passage? Write: Scrub-jays use a cognitive ability known as ________
: This paragraph analyzes the physical corvid brain. It states that their hyperstriatum and nidopallium function "similarly to the human prefrontal cortex" and that their brain-to-body mass ratio is "comparable to that of a chimpanzee," demonstrating structural similarity in function and scale.
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The passage typically focuses on several remarkable behaviors:
Research at the University of Washington used __________ to test if crows could recognize specific humans. This insult was rooted in early anatomical studies
Furthermore, corvids possess an extraordinary capacity for facial recognition and long-term memory retention. In a landmark study conducted at the University of Washington, researchers wearing distinct rubber masks trapped and banded wild crows. Years later, the crows—and notably, their offspring who had never encountered the researchers—harshly scolded and mobbed individuals wearing those specific masks, while ignoring control masks. This indicates not only an acute ability to identify individual human faces but also the presence of cultural transmission, where vital survival information is actively communicated across generations without direct experience. IELTS Reading Questions Questions 1–5
3. IELTS Reading Focus: "The Intelligence of Corvids" Answers
The titled " The Intelligence of Corvids
Beyond physical tool use, corvids exhibit remarkable prowess in the realm of social intelligence and mental time travel, a concept known as episodic-like memory. Western scrub-jays ( Aphelocoma californica ), for instance, are notorious food hoarders. To protect their caches from potential thieves, these jays employ highly tactical counter-strategies. If a scrub-jay notices that it is being watched by a rival while hiding food, it will return to the site later, when the observer is gone, to dig up and re-hide the cache. Crucially, this behavior is only exhibited by jays that have themselves stolen food from others in the past. This suggests that the birds possess a "Theory of Mind"—the ability to attribute mental states, such as intent or knowledge, to other individuals based on their own personal experiences. Gram for gram, a crow’s brain has a
The passage typically explores several experiments demonstrating that corvids possess problem-solving skills comparable to primates. Tool Manufacture:
Ravens are unable to remember the purpose of a tool if more than twelve hours pass.
What did the experiment with Betty the crow prove to researchers?A) Crows prefer artificial tools over natural ones.B) Tool modification in corvids is based on reasoning rather than instinct.C) Corvids cannot solve problems without human assistance.D) Wire is the most effective material for crow tool-making.
An explanation of how survival data is passed down to younger generations of birds.
