Why Dolphins Makes Us Nervous

PART A: Which of the following statements convey Krulwich’s main point in the text?

• Even though the minds of dolphins are mysterious, we should consider the possibility that they are as intelligent as humans.

• No matter how intelligent or unintelligent an animal is, they should not be used for the entertainment of humans.

• Dolphins represent the standard of intelligence that animals should reach to be considered emotionally similar to humans.

• Until people find a way to communicate with dolphins, they won’t be able to confirm if dolphins’ intelligence is similar to humans’ intelligence.

. PART B: Which detail from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• “No leaping out of pools to catch balls, no jumping through hoops. Forcing dolphins to entertain humans, the ministry said, was morally unacceptable.” (Paragraph 2)

• “Big-brained animals almost certainly wouldn’t want to spend years lugging polyester-skinned mammals across shallow swimming pools six days a week,” (Paragraph 6)

• “dolphin brains are about ‘five times larger for their body size when compared to another animal of similar size,’” (Paragraph 12)

• “to dominate all the continents and to wipe out almost all the other large animals, we may have the faint suspicion that if they choose, dolphins could do likewise.” (Paragraph 14)

PART A: Which statement best describes the connection the author draws between animals’ intelligence and how humans treat them?

• Animals who are highly intelligent are considered better suited for tasks often completed by humans.

• Animals may be emotionally intelligent, but can’t comprehend the experiences of captivity or entertainment.

• Animals who have emotional intelligence are considered too similar to humans to participate in degrading tasks.

• Animals with high intelligence enjoy the challenge of completing tasks assigned to them in captivity.

PART B: Which quote from the text best supports the answer to Part A?

• “the Ministry said, ‘and various scientists who have researched dolphin behavior have suggested that [they have] unusually high intelligence... compared to other animals.’” (Paragraph 3)

• “Big-brained animals almost certainly wouldn’t want to spend years lugging polyester-skinned mammals across shallow swimming pools six days a week,”(Paragraph 6)

• “Twenty-four dolphins, after years of service, were being ‘reassigned,’ the story said, so that sea drones, or unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs, in Navyparlance) could take their place.” (Paragraph8)

• “That, of course, was my mind shouting; what the dolphins were thinking, if they even noticed the change, is anybody’s guess.” (Paragraph 9)

Which context clues reveal the meaning of the word disproportionately in Paragraph 12?

• To be fair, their brains are big.

• Larger for their body when compared to another animal of similar size

• We are seven times the norm.

• Not a huge difference, she says.

How does the phrase “the part of the brain dedicated to abstract thinking is more highly convoluted than our own…and [is] capable of complex subtle thinking. You don’t have a big brain like that for no reason” contribute to the author’s point of view on the intelligence level of dolphins?

• It emphasizes how dissimilar dolphins are to humans by comparing their intelligence and experiences.

• It stresses dolphins should be respected for their intellectual capabilities and be treated in ways appropriate for their intelligence.

• It draws attention to how dolphins are negatively impacted and suffer at the hands of the humans who mistreat them.

• It shows how much dolphins want to use their intelligence to help humans and that they have a capacity to perform higher order functions because they are smarter than us.

The author’s primary purpose in including the story how dolphins are being replaced by robots in Paragraphs 7-9 is to..

• Argue that dolphins should not be so commercialized by humans.

• Suggest that using dolphins to entertain humans is inhumane, and humans treat dolphins like a source of amusement instead of considering their feelings.

• Argue that dolphins feel totally rejected by humans after working for years and then being replaced by robots.

• Suggest that because of their similar brain size, dolphins could be capable of human feelings, and we often think they would react like we do in a similar situation.

What tone is the author capturing in Paragraphs 2-4 in “Why Dolphins Make Us Nervous?” Use text evidence to support your response.