●LESSON 3  　 ALEX THE PARROT（本文シート）

 

PART 1

How smart are some animals?  Listen to Irene Pepperberg's parrots, Alex, age 23, and Griffin, age 4.  You'll see that some animals are very smart.

  Pepperberg studies the intelligence of animals.  For more than 20 years, her work has made many people aware of the true intelligence of some animals.

  Alex, for example, knows the right word for more than one hundred things, and he knows the names of many colors, shapes, and materials.

  Few scientists have studied the intelligence of parrots.  Most scientists have studied chimpanzees and dolphins.  Pepperberg likes parrots because they're smart, and they live a long time (often up to 50 years).  And, best of all, to communicate with people, parrots don't need to push buttons or use sign language.  They can learn to speak.

 

PART 2

  Even the most skeptical person will be surprised when he or she visits Alex and Griffin.  When Alex, for example, wants to go outside and play, he orders, "Go see tree!"

  A talking parrot is not unusual, but if a parrot shows the intelligence to solve a problem, it surprises us.  Show Alex two triangles, a yellow one and a blue one, and ask him, "What's the same?"  He'll answer, "Shape!"  Ask him, "What's different?"  And he'll say, "Color!"

  To do these things Alex must understand the question, compare the objects, and then search for the correct answer from his vocabulary.  In other words, this is not simple memorization.

  "I am not saying that Alex has language," says Pepperberg.  "You can't have a usual conversation with him.  But when he wants something, he tells us.  And he can answer questions put to him."

 

PART 3

  Some scientists have doubts about studies on animal intelligence.  They believe that the animals are simply imitating humans, without truly "understanding."  Or they say the animals are simply learning tricks, like a dog learns to sit or roll over.

  To avoid such criticism, Pepperberg uses the advice of these scientists in her experiments.  For example, some of Pepperberg's students teach Alex, but different students give him the "tests."  And the order of questions always changes from one kind to another: first size, then shape, next color, and so on.  This shows clearly that Alex is not giving an automatic answer.

  Sometimes a student questioning Alex makes a mistake, and tells him "No!" even when he gives the correct answer.  When this happens, Alex won't change his answer.  He gives the correct one again, even if it means he won't get a reward.

 

PART 4

  Pepperberg teaches Alex with the help of one of her students.  First, Pepperberg holds up a small object.  "What's this?" she says to the student.  Then the student names the object and receives it.  By listening and watching, Alex soon learns that he will get the object if he names it.  In fact, Alex begins to compete with the student because he wants the object.

  Alex has become so skilled that he is now a tutor for Griffin.  One of Pepperberg's students shows the parrots a key and asks, "What's this?"  Griffin doesn't answer at first, but when Alex screams, "Key!"  Griffin does the same.  Next, when Griffin tries to say "paper," he says only "ayuur."  Alex is becoming more and more irritated, so he finally orders Griffin to "Talk clearly!"

  "They may not think like we do," says Pepperberg, "but it's almost impossible to deny their intelligence."

 

 

● Lesson 3  本文訳例

PART 1

   一部の動物たちはどのくらい利口なのだろうか.　アイリーン・ペパーバーグのオウムたち, 23才のアレックスと４才のグリフィンのいうことを聞いてみなさい. あなたがたは一部の動物たちがとても利口だということがわかるだろう.

　ぺパーバーグは動物たちの知能を研究している. ２０年以上もの間, 彼女の研究は多くの人々に一部の動物たちの本当の知能に気づかせてきた.

　例えば, アレックスは100個以上の物を表す正しい言葉を知っている. それに彼はたくさんの色, 形, 素材の名称を知っている.

　オウムの知能の研究を行っている科学者はほとんどいない. たいていの科学者はチンパンジーやイルカの研究をしてきた. ペパーバーグはオウムが好きだ. なぜならオウムは利口で, 長く(しばしば５０才まで)生きるからだ. そして何よりもまず, 人間とコミュニケーションをとるのに, オウムはボタンを押したり, 身振り言葉を使う必要がないからである. オウムは話すことを習うことができるのだ.

PART 2

　もっとも疑い深い人でさえ, アレックスとグリフィンを訪ねれば驚くだろう. 例えば, アレックスが外へ出て遊びたいとき, 「木を見に行こう！」と命令するのだ.

　話をするオウムは珍しくはない. しかし, もしオウムが問題を解決する知能を見せるとしたら, そのことは私たしたちを驚かせる. アレックスに二つの三角形, 黄色いのと青いの, を見せて「何が同じなの？」と聞いてみなさい. 彼は「形！」と答えるだろう. 　｢何が違うの？｣と聞いてみなさい. すると彼は「色！」と言うだろう.

これらのことを行うためには, アレックスは質問を理解し, 物を比較し, 彼の語彙から正しい答えを探さなければならない.  言い替えれば, これは単純な暗記ではないのだ.

「私はアレックスが言語をもっていると言っているのではありません」とペパーバーグは言う. 「彼と普通の会話をすることはできません. しかし彼は何かがほしいときにはそれを私たちに教えてくれます. そして, 彼は出された質問に答えることができるのです」

 

 

PART 3

　科学者の中には, 動物の知能の研究について疑いをもっている人がいる. 彼らは, 動物は, 本当に｢理解｣することなしに単に人間のまねをしているだけだと信じている. あるいは彼らは, 動物は, 犬がお座りや（横に）くるんと転がって起きることを学ぶように, 単に芸を学んでいるだけだと言う.

　このような批判を避けるために, ペパーバーグは彼女の実験において, これらの科学者の忠告を利用する. 例えば, ペパーバーグの学生の何人かがアレックスに教えるが, 異なる学生が彼に「テスト」をするのだ. そして, 質問の順番はいつもある種類から別の種類へと変わる. 初めは, 大きさ, それから, 形, 次は色, というように. このことは, 明らかにアレックスが機械的に答えを出しているのではないということを示している.

　時々, アレックスに質問をしている学生が間違えて, アレックスが正解を出したにもかかわらず, 彼に「違う」と言うことがある. こういうことが起こるとき, アレックスは, 彼の答えを決して変えようとはしない. たとえそれがごほうびをもらえないということを意味していても, 彼は正しい答えをもう一度言うのである.

PART 4

　ペパーバーグは彼女の学生のひとりに手伝ってもらいアレックスに教ている. 最初に, ペパーバーグは小さい物を掲げる. 「これは何？」彼女は学生に言う. すると, この学生はその物の名前を言ってそれを受け取る. 聞くことと見ることによって, アレックスはすぐに, もし彼がその物の名前を言ったらそれをもらえるということを学ぶ. それどころか, アレックスはその物がほしいがためにその学生と競争し始める.

　アレックスはとても熟達したので, 今ではグリフィンのための個人教師である. ペパーバーグの学生のひとりは, オウムたちに鍵を見せて, 「これは何？」と尋ねる. グリフィンは初めは答えない. しかしアレックスが「Key(鍵)！」と金切り声をあげると, グリフィンも「Key(鍵)！」と同じことをする． 次に, グリフィンが「paper(紙)」と言おうとするとき, 彼は

“ayuur”としか言わない. アレックスはだんだんいらいらしてくる．そして最後にはグリフィンに「はっきり話しなさい！」と命令する.

　「彼らは私たちがするようには考えないのかもしれません」とペパーバーグは言う．「しかし, 彼らの知能を否定することはほとんど不可能です」

Lesson 3  Summary Sheet

 

   Irene Pepperberg is a scientist who studies the intelligence of animals.  She studies how smart some animals are.  She has studied not chimpanzees or dolphins, but parrots, for more than 20 years.  Why parrots?  Because parrots are smart, live a long time, and can learn to speak.  She has two parrots, Alex and Griffin.  Alex is 23 years old and Griffin is four years old.

   Alex is a very smart parrot.  If he wants to go out, he says, “Go see tree!”  He can understand questions like “What’s the same?” or “What’s different?” and can answer these questions.

   Some scientists don’t believe that animals have intelligence.  Pepperberg follows the advice of these scientists.  For example, some of her students teach Alex, but different students give him the tests.  By doing this, they know Alex is not giving an automatic answer.

   As another example, Pepperberg holds up a small object like a book, and says to her student, “What’s this?”  Then the student answers “A book” and gets the book.  By listening and watching, Alex soon learns that he can get the object if he says its name.  Alex is now a teacher for Griffin.  Pepperberg thinks that she now can’t say that parrots don’t have intelligence.

 

Q & A

1. What is Irene Pepperberg? ----- She is a scientist.

2. What animals does Irene study? ----- She studies parrots.

3. Can parrots live long? ----- Yes, they can.

4. What does Irene call her two parrots? ----- She calls them Alex and Griffin.

5. Can Alex understand “What’s the same?” or “What’s different?” and answer 

   these questions? ----- Yes, he can.

6. Does Irene know that Alex doesn’t give an automatic answer?

   ----- Yes, she does.

7. How does Alex learn things? ----- He learns by listening and watching.

8. What does Irene believe about parrots?

   ----- She believes that they have intelligence.

 

Lesson 3  Summary Completion

 

   Irene Pepperberg is a scientist who studies the (            ) of animals.  She studies how (        ) some animals are.  She has studied not chimpanzees or dolphins, but parrots, for more than 20 years.  Why parrots?  Because parrots are (         ), live a (        ) time, and can learn to (         ).  She has two parrots, Alex and Griffin.  Alex is 23 years old and Griffin is four years old.

   Alex is a very smart parrot.  If he wants to go out, he says, “Go see tree!”  He can understand questions like “What’s the same?” or “What’s (           )?” and can answer these questions.

   Some scientists don’t believe that animals have intelligence.  Pepperberg follows the (           ) of these scientists.  For example, some of her students teach Alex, but different students give him the (        ).  By doing this, they know Alex is not giving an (            ) answer.

   As another example, Pepperberg (        ) up a small object like a book, and says to her student, “What’s this?”  Then the student answers “A book” and gets the book.  By listening and (            ), Alex soon learns that he can get the object if he says its (         ).  Alex is now a teacher for Griffin.  Pepperberg thinks that she now can’t say that parrots don’t have intelligence.

 

　　　　　　　　L.3 Vocabulary Input Sheet

 

NO	English	Japanese	1	2	3	1	2	3
1	How smart?	どのくらい利口なのか。
2	You’ll see that…	…がわかるだろう
3	the intelligence	知能
4	make people aware of …	人々に…を気づかせる
5	the right word for things	物を表す正しい言葉
6	colors, shapes, and materials	色と形と素材
7	parrot	オウム
8	dolphin	イルカ
9	up to 50 years	５０歳まで
10	best of all	何よりもまず
11	communicate with …	…とコミュニケーションをとる
12	push buttons	ボタンを押す
13	sign language	身振り言語
14	Skeptical person	疑い深い人
15	He orders.	彼は命令する。
16	not unusual	珍しくはない
17	solve a problem	問題と解決する
18	triangle	三角形
19	compare the objects	物を比較する
20	search for the correct answer	正しい答えを探す
21	vocabulary	語彙
22	in other words	言い替えると
23	simple memorization	単純な暗記
24	have a usual conversation with…	…と普通の会話をする
25	questions put to him	彼に出された質問
26	have doubts about …	…について疑いを持っている
27	studies on …	…に関する研究
28	imitate humans	人間のまねをする
29	tricks	芸
30	roll over	くるんと転がって起きる
31	avoid such criticism	このような批判を避ける
32	experiment	実験
33	the order of questions	質問の順番
34	change from one kind to another	ある種類から別の種類へ変わる
35	give an automatic answer	機械的な答えを出す
36	won’t change his answer	答えを決して変えようとしない
37	even if it means …	…と言うことを意味していても
38	get a reward	ごほうびをもらう
39	with the help of …	…に手伝ってもらって
40	hold up a small object	小さい物を掲げる
41	compete with …	…と競争する
42	skilled	熟達した
43	a tutor for …	…のための個人教師
44	at first	初めは
45	scream	金切り声をあげる
46	more and more irritated	だんだんいらいらして
47	order Griffin to talk clearly	グリフィンにはっきり話すように命令する
48	like we do	私たちがするように
49	almost impossible	ほとんど不可能な
50	deny their intelligence	彼らの知能を否定する

 

 

Lesson 3  Check-up Questions (Easy Version)

Part 1:

1. How old are two parrots Alex and Griffin?

--- Alex is 23 and Griffin is four years old.

2. How long has Pepperberg studied the intelligence of animals?

---(She has studied) for more than 20 years.

3. For how many things does Alex know the right word?

---(He knows the right word) for more than one hundred things.

4. Parrots live a long time.  How long do they often live?

---(They often live) up to 50 years.

Part 2:

5. When Alex wants to go outside and play, what does he do?

---He orders, “Go see tree!”

6. If you show Alex a yellow triangle and a blue one, and ask him what’s different, what will he answer [say]?

---He will answer [say], “Color!”

7. Can we have a usual conversation with Alex?

---No, we can’t.

Part 3:

8. Do all scientists believe studies on animal intelligence?

---No, they don’t.  (Some scientists have doubts about them.)

9. Can you believe that Alex is not giving an automatic answer?

---(Yes, I can. / No, I can’t.)

Part 4:

10. Who helps Pepperberg when she teaches Alex?

---One of her students does.

11. Who is a tutor for Griffin?

---Alex is.

12. When Griffin doesn’t say clearly, what does Alex finally say to Griffin?

---He says [orders], “Talk clearly!”

13. Does Pepperberg believe parrots have their intelligence?

---Yes, she does.

 

LESSON 3  　 Passage Completion

 

PART 1

  How smart are some animals?  Listen to Irene Pepperberg's parrots, Alex, age 23, and Griffin, age 4.  You'll see (�@              ).

  Pepperberg studies (�A　　　　　　　　　).  For more than 20 years, her work has made many people (�B　　　　　　　　　　　).

  Alex, for example, knows the right word for more than one hundred things, and he knows the names of many colors, shapes, and materials.

  Few scientists have studied (�C                 ).  Most scientists have studied chimpanzees and dolphins.  Pepperberg likes parrots because they're smart, and they live a long time (often up to 50 years).  And, best of all, to communicate with people, parrots don't need to (�D　　　　　　　　　　).  They can learn to speak.

　　　あ）the intelligence of animals　　い）push buttons or use sign language

　　　う）that some animals are very smart　　え）the intelligence of parrots

      お）aware of the true intelligence of some animals

 

PART 2

  Even the most (�@          ) person will be surprised when he or she visits Alex and Griffin.  When Alex, for example, wants to go outside and play, he (�A　　　　　), "Go see tree!"

  A talking parrot is not unusual, but if a parrot shows the intelligence to (�B　　　　　) a problem, it surprises us.  Show Alex two triangles, a yellow one and a blue one, and ask him, "What's the same?"  He'll answer, "(�C　　　　)!"  Ask him, "What's different?"  And he'll say, "(�D　　　　)!"

  To do these things Alex must understand the question, (�E　　　　　) the objects, and then (�F　　　　　) for the correct answer from his vocabulary.  In other words, this is not simple (�G　　　　　　　　).

  "I am not saying that Alex has (�H　　　　　　)," says Pepperberg.  "You can't have a usual (�I　　　　　　　　) with him.  But when he wants something, he tells us.  And he can answer questions put to him."

 

 

PART 3

  Some scientists have doubts about studies on animal intelligence.  They believe that the animals are simply (�@　　　　　) humans, without truly "understanding."  Or they say the animals are simply learning (�A　　　　), like a dog learns to sit or roll over.

  To avoid such (�B　　　　　), Pepperberg uses the advice of these scientists in her (�C　　　　　　　).  For example, some of Pepperberg's students teach Alex, but (�D　　　　　　　) students give him the "tests."  And the (�E　　　　　) of questions always changes from one kind to another: first size, then shape, next color, and so on.  This shows clearly that Alex is not giving an (�F　　　　　) answer.

  Sometimes a student questioning Alex makes a mistake, and tells him "No!" even when he gives the (�G　　　　　) answer.  When this happens, Alex won't (�H　　　　　) his answer.  He gives the correct one again, even if it means he won't get a (�I　　　　　).

 

 

PART 4

Rearranging the following sentences and complete the first paragraph.　�B comes last.

�@  Then the student names the object and receives it.

�A  First, Pepperberg holds up a small object.

　�B In fact, Alex begins to compete with the student because he wants the object.

�C Pepperberg teaches Alex with the help of one of her students.

  �D By listening and watching, Alex soon learns that he will get the object if he names it.      

  �E "What's this?" she says to the student. 

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　→　　　→　　　→　　　→　　　→　�B

Rearranging the following sentences and complete the second paragraph. �F comes last.

�@ Griffin does the same. 

�A Griffin doesn't answer at first, but when Alex screams, "Key!"

�B One of Pepperberg's students shows the parrots a key and asks, "What's this?"

�CNext, when Griffin tries to say "paper," he says only "ayuur."

�DAlex has become so skilled that he is now a tutor for Griffin. 

�EAlex is becoming more and more irritated, so he finally orders Griffin to "Talk clearly!"

  �F"They may not think like we do," says Pepperberg, "but it's almost impossible to deny their intelligence."　　　

　　　→　　　→　　　→　　　→　　　→　　　→ �F

 戻る