1 . Researchers at the DogStudies lab at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History have shown that dogs may possess some metacognitive (元认知) abilities. Specifically, when they do not have enough information to solve a problem, they will actively look for more information, similarly to primates (灵长类).

In a recent study, project leader Julia Belger explored whether dogs have metacognitive abilities. To test this, the researchers designed a device involving two V-shaped fences. A reward, either food or a toy, would be placed by one researcher behind one of the two fences while another researcher held the dogs. In some cases, the dogs could see where the reward was placed, while in others, the dogs could not. The researchers then analyzed how frequently the dogs looked through the gap in the fence before choosing an option.

The researchers found that the dogs did check significantly more often for the reward when they had not seen where it was placed. These results show that dogs do tend to actively seek extra information when they have not seen where the reward is concealed.

The results did not allow the researchers to say definitively whether dogs possess meta-cognition, though they displayed some evidence for it. Julia said, “For humans, vision is an important information gathering sense. In this case, our experiment was based on a checking action relying on sight, but the dogs probably also used their sense of smell when checking through the gap. We know that smell is very important to dogs and we could see that they were using it.”

Julia added, “In future, we would like to develop an experiment to investigate under what circumstances dogs decide to use their sense of smell versus sight. This may give us additional insights into their information seeking abilities.”

1. What ability may dogs have according to the study?

A．To offer information like primates.	B．To use their skills to find more food.
C．To seek information to solve a problem.	D．To ask for help before choosing an option.

2. What does the underlined word “concealed” in paragraph 3 mean?

A．Decorated.

B．Hidden.

C．Produced.

D．Purchased.

3. What attitude did the researchers have to the finding?

A．Uncertain.

B．Friendly.

C．Negative.

D．Critical.

4. In which section of a newspaper can you probably read the text?

A．Environment and technology.	B．Humans and nature.
C．Literature and culture.	D．Society and life.