MP State Exams English MP SI Solved Papers MP-SI 27 October 2017, 2 PM

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    Read the passage carefully and answer the question given below:    Who would have thought that every squeal, squeak and chirp that comes out of the mouth of the humble Gunnison Prairie dog means something? A three-decade study of these rodents has revealed a language so complex, that it surpasses the communication skills of dolphins, whales and even non-human primates like monkeys! The stunning findings were revealed by Professor Con Slobodchikoff, who has been recording and studying the sounds of these animals and has identified a vocabulary comprising least 100 words. The smart little rodents use their words to identify not only who the predator is, i.e. a coyote, human, dog, or a particular kind of bird, but also details like their shape, size, color and even the pace at which they are approaching. To conduct his research, the professor and a number of students from Northern Arizona University, hid inside the prairie dog villages and recorded all the sounds they made. What the team discovered is that these smart creatures are able alert their entire group of many details, (the predator, its color, location, etc.) by sounding just one single 'word'. They do that by modulating or varying the pitch of their voice. What was also interesting is how the animals responded to each kind of predator. In the case of a coyote, they quickly scampered into their burrows; while for badgers, they simply laid low, to avoid being spotted. To test their theories, the scientist played back some of the recorded sounds, as well as, asked four volunteers to walk into the prairie village, wearing a different coloured shirt each time, the rodents reacted exactly the same way they had in the presence of the real predator, confirming that the animal had not only conveyed that the predator was a human, but also, whether he/she was fat/thin and the color of the shirt! Simple fascinating! While dubbed dogs, thanks to their canine-like barks. Prairie dogs are actually ground dwelling squirrels and part of the rodent family, which includes not only rats and mice, but also, porcupines and beavers. The Gunnison, found primarily in North America, is one of five species that is alive today. —By Meera Dolasia
    Which one of the following statements is TRUE according to the passage?

    A) The language of the rodents were not as complex as those of dolphins or whales

    B) In his study, the scientist identified more than 100 vocabulary

    C) Prairie dogs are land squirrels belonging to the rodent family

    D) The Gunnison are found everywhere, except in North America.

    Correct Answer: C


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