三、閱讀測驗:20 分,每題 2 分 A.
The phenomenon of cultural transmission can be observed in not only
human beings but also animals. The executive chef shows his/her apprentice
how to make a tender chicken dish. Likely, in the world of animals,
sparrows learn how to do vocal dialects from older sparrows. Through the
process of socialization, young or more incapable members of the group
gradually pick up the common knowledge, skills, and information. However,
the process of cultural transmission can be largely affected by external
factors, such as the physical environment, that may lead an individual to
interpret a traditional concept in a novel way. The environmental stimuli that
contribute to this variance can include climate, migration patterns, conflict,
suitability for survival, and endemic pathogens. Although differences exist,
cultural transmission is an important way for “a new comer” to gain the
membership into a social group.
A recent study published in the journal Science finds that cultural
transmission is behind the spread of a hunting technique among humpback
whales off New England. Lobtail feeding is the focus of the study. The
researchers first saw lobtail feeding in 1980. Within 30 years, 37 percent of
the observed humpbacks had learned to hunt fish by slapping the surface of
the water with its tail. The whales will gobble up the fish that the resulting
bubbles pen in. With 27 years of data from whale-watching boats in the
Guld of Maine, the researchers have created mathematical models to
examine the spread of lobtail feeding. The results show that humpback
whales that spend more time with lobtail feeders were more likely to pick up
the method themselves. Clearly, whales are capable of sophisticated social
interactions—and we've only seen the tip of the tail.
【題組】54. Why do humpback whales do lobtail feeding?
(A) to make slapping sounds
(B) to make other fish afraid of them
(C) to spend more time with lobtail feeders
(D) to catch fish