Dolphins' Self-Recognition
52 海豚的自我意识
DATE=5-30-01
TITLE=SCIENCE REPORT - Dolphins' Self-Recognition
BYLINE=Jill Moss 1
(Start at 59")This is the VOA Special English Science Report.
Many people believe that (1) dolphins are among the (2) smartest animals on Earth. Dolphins are warm-blooded sea animals. Recently, scientists discovered that dolphins could do something that humans can do. They say dolphins can （3）recognize themselves in a mirror, a shiny piece of glass.
Scientists Diana Reiss and Lori Marino discovered this special skill. They did separate studies with two bottlenose dolphins at the New York Aquarium 2 in (4) Brooklyn, New York. Their findings were published in a National (5) Academy of Sciences publication.
The researchers say their study proves that dolphins have a high level of intelligence. Mizz Reiss and Mizz Marino say that dolphins have a level of self-knowledge because they are able to recognize themselves in mirrors. This level of self-knowledge has been identified only in humans and one other kind of animal - the great (6) apes.
The two researchers discovered this by using a test created thirty years ago by scientist Gordon Gallop 3. Mister Gallop placed a mark on animals. He wanted to find out if the animals were able to recognize themselves in a mirror. He found that when animals study the marking in a mirror, they show signs of self-recognition.
Mizz Reiss and Mizz Marino tested the two dolphins many times with two markers. They used one marker filled with ink that made real marks. They also used a marker filled with water that did not make a mark. Each dolphin repeatedly swam to the mirror to inspect the place where it had been marked with ink. The scientists say the dolphins turned and （7）positioned themselves to get a better look in the mirror.
Mizz Reiss says that most animals either refuse to look at a mirror. Or they react (8) aggressively as if the image were another animal.
Experts say this new research provides more information about how the brain develops. During the past sixty- million years, the brains of dolphins and （9）primates 5 have developed differently. Primates include humans, apes and monkeys. For example, dolphin brains lack a front part, or lobe 6, found in primate 4 brains. Also, one area of dolphin brains is organized differently from that of primates. Mizz Reiss says that even though these animals have developed differently over time, their brains have developed a similar intelligence.
This VOA Special English Science Report was written by Jill Moss.
注释：
(1) dolphin[ 5dClfin ]n.海豚
(2) smart[ smB:t ]n.刺痛, 痛苦adj.巧妙的, 聪明的
(3) recognize[ 5rekE^naiz ]v.认可, 承认vi.具结
(4) Brooklyn[ 5bruklin ]n.布鲁克林(美国纽约市西南部的一区)
(5) Academy[ E5kAdEmi ]n.(高等)专科院校, 研究院
(6) ape[ eip ]n.猿
(7) position[ pE5ziFEn ]n.位置, 职位
(8) aggressive[ E5^resiv ]adj.好斗的, 敢做敢为的
(9) primate[ 5praimit ]n.首领,灵长类的动物
- Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
- He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。
- The first time I saw seals was in an aquarium.我第一次看见海豹是在水族馆里。
- I'm going to the aquarium with my parents this Sunday.这个星期天，我要和父母一起到水族馆去。
- They are coming at a gallop towards us.他们正朝着我们飞跑过来。
- The horse slowed to a walk after its long gallop.那匹马跑了一大阵后慢下来缓步而行。
- 14 percent of primate species are highly endangered.14%的灵长类物种处于高度濒危状态。
- The woolly spider monkey is the largest primate in the Americas.绒毛蛛猴是美洲最大的灵长类动物。
- Primates are alert, inquisitive animals. 灵长目动物是机灵、好奇的动物。
- Consciousness or cerebration has been said to have emerged in the evolution of higher primates. 据说意识或思考在较高级灵长类的进化中已出现。