Inspired, Mei decided to test their problem-solving with a simple experiment. She placed a shiny button on a low table and watched. The crows arrived in a black, gossiping cloud. One crow, smaller than the rest, hopped onto the table, tapped the button with a toe, and hopped back. The button triggered a small compartment of peanuts. The flock erupted in triumphant caws. Over the next week Mei adjusted the task: they had to pull a string, push a lever, and later, to combine steps in sequence.
This article provides an (akin to Cambridge IELTS style), followed by three question types (True/False/Not Given, Summary Completion, and Short Answer) with explanations that go beyond the answer key.
Answer: B (The crows did not harass them). Section 2: Matching Information (Theories & Experiments)
News of her experiments spread in the neighborhood. People began leaving puzzles and food, and the elm became a living laboratory. Mei met Mr. Alvarez, an elderly clockmaker who had watched the same flock for decades. He told stories of crows recognizing human faces and remembering who had been kind. "They repay favors," he said, polishing a brass gear. "And they keep grudges." Inspired, Mei decided to test their problem-solving with
Reshaping an unfamiliar, artificial material to solve a specific problem.
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The brain structure of corvids is particularly fascinating. Unlike mammals, which rely heavily on the neocortex for complex thought, corvids achieve high intelligence with a densely packed forebrain. They have a higher density of neurons in the pallium than many primates. This neural architecture supports what scientists call ‘fluid intelligence’—the ability to solve novel problems without prior experience. Consequently, corvid intelligence is not merely a larger bird brain but a fundamentally different, highly efficient evolutionary solution. One crow, smaller than the rest, hopped onto
Paragraph E states that this dense region of neurons facilitates executive functions, working memory, and "cognitive flexibility." 13. convergent evolution
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Taken as a measure against something possible or anticipated; preventative. Over the next week Mei adjusted the task:
Furthermore, corvids exhibit an ability once thought unique to humans: episodic-like memory and future planning. Western scrub-jays ( Aphelocoma californica ) are habitual scatter-hoarders, caching thousands of seeds and insects across vast territories. Experiments led by Professor Nicola Clayton revealed that these jays remember not only where they hid food, but what they hid and when they hid it. When given a choice between perishable wax worms and non-perishable nuts, the jays would retrieve the worms shortly after hiding them. However, if a significant period passed, they ignored the worms—knowing they would be decayed—and opted for the nuts instead.
: Paragraph D details experiments where ravens chose a future token over immediate, low-value food. This exhibits deferred gratification and advanced future planning, as they kept the token for up to fifteen hours before using it.