Level 1 Reading 1A

Ch.1

Reading 1A THE INCREDIBLE DOLPHIN Many people say dolphins are intelligent. They seem to be able to think, understand, and learn things quickly. But are they as smart as humans, or are they more like cats and dogs? Dolphins use their brains quite differently from the way people do. But scientists say dolphins and humans are alike in some ways. How? Communication Like humans, every dolphin has its own "name." The name is a special whistle. Each dolphin chooses a whistle for itself, usually by its first birthday. Dolphins are like people in other ways, too. They "talk" to each other about a lot of things—such as their age, their feelings, and possible danger. They also use a system of sounds and body language to communicate. Understanding dolphin conversation is not easy for humans. No one "speaks dolphin" yet, but some scientists are trying to learn. Play Dolphins live in groups called pods, and they often join other dolphins from different pods to play games and have fun—just like people. Sometimes they chase other dolphins carrying objects (e.g., seaweed) and throw these objects back and forth. Scientists believe playing together is something only intelligent animals do. Teamwork Dolphins and humans are similar in another way: They both make plans for getting things they want. In the seas of southern Brazil, for example, dolphins use an intelligent method to get food. When there are fish near a boat, dolphins signal to the fishermen to put their nets in the water. With the dolphins' help, the men can catch a lot of fish. Why do dolphins assist the men? There is an advantage for the dolphins: They get to eat some of the fish that escape from the net.

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