Animal Communication Sample Questions

The ability to pass mirror self-recognition test

• constitutes evidence for self-awareness

• constitutes evidence for theory of mind

• is a uniquely human capacity

• •=is a capacity shared by humans, apes and monkeys

Which of the following properties characterizes all the natural communication systems that we have looked at?

• productivity

• displacement

• grammar

• rapid fading

Which of the following anomalous sentences in the language of Rocky the sea lion are problematic both syntactically and semantically?

• BALL UNDER BLACK

• BLACK WHITE BALL UNDER

• BALL UNDER CAR

• all of these

Who is Rocky?

• a sea lion

• a dolphin

• a gorilla

• a chimpanzee

It has been claimed that apes cannot acquire human vocalizations because:

• a)Their vocal apparatus is too different from ours.

• a)Their vocalizations depend on emotions too strongly.

• Both (a) and (b)

• Neither (a) nor (b)

Miksis et al. (2002) compared the whistles of ten captive-born and ten wild-born dolphins. The whistles of captive-born dolphins were

• Identical to those of the wild-born ones

• Identical to signature whistles of their mothers

• Genetically transmitted

• Relatively similar to the trainers’ whistles