14．The more scientists study pigeons，the more they learn how their brains operate in ways not so different from our own．
In a new study，researchers found that pigeons can categorize and name both natural and man-made objects-and not just a few objects．These birds categorized 128 photographs into 16categories．
Ed Wasserman，an author of the study，says the finding suggests a similarity between how pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children do．
In an experiment the researchers used a computerized version of the"name game"where three pigeons were shown 128 black-and-white photos of objects from 16 basic categories：baby，bottle，cake，car，cracker，dog，duck，fish，flower，hat，key，pen，phone，plane，shoe，tree．They then had to peck（啄） on one of two different symbols：the correct one for that photo and an incorrect one that was randomly chosen from one of the remaining 15 categories．The pigeons not only succeeded in learning the task，but they reliably transferred the learning to four new photos from each of the 16 categories．
Pigeons have long been known to be smarter than average birds．They have a"homing instinct（返巢本能）"that helps them find their way home，even when blindfolded（蒙住眼睛）．They have better eyesight than humans and have been trained to spot orange life jackets of people lost at sea．They carried messages for the U．S．Army during the two world wars．
McMurray，another author of the study，says"Our testing methods can be used with any type of animal that can interact with a computer screen．"
He also says，"Contrary to people's belief，the research shows the methods with which children solve this huge problem may be shared with many species．"
Wasserman acknowledges though this study is not a direct equivalent of word learning in children，the model used in the study could lead to a better understanding of children's word learning．
32．What can we know from Paragraph 4？A
A．How the researchers carried out the experiment．
B．What objects pigeons are good at recognizing．
C．How many categories pigeons can be classified into．
D．Why researchers wanted to prove pigeons'intelligence．
33．What can pigeons do？A
A．Help to save lives．
B．Teach children words．
C．Learn words just as adults．
D．Use their eyes to judge the way home．
34．According to McMurray，most people consider children's word learning methodsB．
A．interesting
B．unique
C．important
D．common
35．What is the purpose of this passage？D
A．To inform people that pigeons are clever birds．
B．To prove pigeons are of great use to humans．
C．To explain why pigeons solve problems more easily than children．
D．To show pigeons are similar to children in learning words．
分析 文章主要讲述了鸽子与人类的区别．
解答 32．A 细节理解题．根据第四段In an experiment the researchers used a computerized version of the"name game"where three pigeons were shown 128 black-and-white photos of objects from 16 basic categories在一项实验中，研究人员使用了电脑版的"名称游戏"，其中三只鸽子被展示了128个来自16个基本类别的物体的黑白照片．主要讲述了科学家是如何进行试验的．故选A．
33．A 细节理解题．根据文章内容They have better eyesight than humans and have been trained to spot orange life jackets of people lost at sea他们的视力比人类好，受过训练，能在海上发现丢失的橙色救生衣．故选A．
34．B 细节理解题．根据文章内容Contrary to people's belief，the research shows the methods with which children solve this huge problem may be shared with many species．"与人们的看法相反，研究表明，儿童解决这一巨大问题的方法可以与许多物种分享．可知每一个孩子的学习方法是独特的，是不一样的．故选B．
35．D 主旨题 文章主要讲述了鸽子与人类的区别，文章内容Ed Wasserman，an author of the study，says the finding suggests a similarity between how pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children do．埃德•沃瑟曼说，这项研究的作者发现鸽子如何学习单词的和孩子学习的方式之间有一定的相似性．．故选D．
点评 这类题材阅读理解时要求考生对文章通读一遍，做题时结合原文和题目有针对性的找出相关语句进行仔细分析，结合选项选出正确答案．推理判断题也是要在抓住关键句子的基础上合理的分析才能得出正确答案，切忌胡乱猜测，一定要做到有理有据．
