Fill-in-the-Blank Questions: Animal Communication and Consciousness

Instruction: Read the following text. Choose the best word(s) for each numbered blank from the four choices of the multiple choice questions.

Words group 2: 'idea, degree, electrical, previously, untrue, article, complex, greatly, possess, claimed; command, simplify, communicate. similar, brain, mass, capacity, investing, pain, according'.

Text: The [idea][1] that animals can communicate with each other through electrical signals is not new. [Previously][4], researchers have [claimed][10] that certain species possess a 'bioelectric [command][11] center' that allows them to [communicate][15] through electrical impulses. However, a new [article][6] suggests that this is [untrue][5]. The [electrical][3] signals that animals use to communicate are [similar][14] to the ones that we use to transmit information through our nervous system. But the [complex][7] structure of the human [brain][16] and its [capacity][17] for processing information is what sets us apart from other animals. The [mass][18] of cells in our brain working together is what allows us to think, feel, and experience [pain][19]. While other animals may possess some degree of consciousness, they do not have the same level of [capacity][17] for processing information as humans. Investing energy in a body system that recognizes pain would be a [poor][20] evolutionary strategy for some animals, according to the [article][6]. It's more likely that these animals use electrical signals as a means of [simplifying][12] communication, rather than as a way of experiencing the world around them, [according][20] to the authors.

Single-choice question:

The text is about the [A] similarities between animal and plant behavior [B] importance of electrical signals in animal communication [C] differences between animal and human brains [D] evolution of animal consciousness
The word 'previously' in the text means [A] recently [B] currently [C] in the past [D] indefinitely
The word 'claimed' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] denied [B] suggested [C] confirmed [D] ignored
The word 'untrue' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] accurate [B] proven [C] false [D] vague
The word 'complex' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] simple [B] intricate [C] basic [D] easy
The word 'article' in the text refers to [A] a scientific study [B] a news report [C] a blog post [D] a fictional story
The word 'greatly' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] slightly [B] significantly [C] randomly [D] differently
The word 'possess' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] lack [B] own [C] destroy [D] need
The word 'command' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] instruction [B] order [C] suggestion [D] request
The word 'claimed' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] doubted [B] questioned [C] denied [D] confirmed
The word 'similar' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] different [B] alike [C] unique [D] strange
The word 'simplify' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] complicate [B] make easier [C] confuse [D] ignore
The word 'communicate' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] ignore [B] understand [C] share [D] analyze
The word 'brain' in the text refers to [A] a plant's nervous system [B] an animal's electrical signals [C] a human's processing center [D] a cell's structure
The word 'investing' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] spending [B] saving [C] earning [D] losing
The word 'pain' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] pleasure [B] relief [C] discomfort [D] numbness
The word 'capacity' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] size [B] ability [C] weight [D] length
The word 'mass' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] group [B] individual [C] single [D] pair
The word 'pain' in the text is an example of [A] an emotion [B] a physical sensation [C] a thought [D] a memory
The word 'according' in the text is closest in meaning to [A] denying [B] stating [C] ignoring [D] questioning

Standard Answer:

C 2. C 3. B 4. C 5. B 6. A 7. B 8. B 9. B 10. D
B 12. B 13. C 14. C 15. A 16. C 17. B 18. A 19. B 20. B