Question

Which of the following are ways that chimpanzees can increase their chance of obtaining food?

a) Using tools for foraging
b) Developing complex language skills
c) Performing intricate mating dances
d) Engaging in solitary hunting

Answer 1

Chimpanzees can increase their chances of obtaining food primarily by using tools for foraging, as first discovered by Jane Goodall. This tool use varies by habitat and includes making fishing rods for termites and using sharpened sticks as spears.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chimpanzees can increase their chance of obtaining food by using tools for foraging. Primate expert Jane Goodall discovered in 1960 that chimpanzees engage in tool use, such as stripping leaves from twigs to create 'fishing' rods for termites and sharpening sticks to use as spears. This tool use is an example of primates using insight to solve a problem and obtain food efficiently. In addition to using tools, other forms of chimpanzee ingenuity, like the use of stones to crack nuts, have been observed. These tool-use behaviors can vary depending on the chimpanzees' habitat, such as the differences between those living in the rainforest and the savannah. However, developing complex language skills, performing intricate mating dances, and engaging in solitary hunting are not commonly described as strategies for chimpanzees to increase their chance of getting food.

Answer 2

The ways that chimpanzees can increase their chance of obtaining food.

a) Using tools for foraging

Step-by-step explanation:

Chimpanzees increase their chance of obtaining food primarily by using tools for foraging. Unlike option b) (Developing complex language skills) and option c) (Performing intricate mating dances), which are not directly linked to obtaining food, and option d) (Engaging in solitary hunting), which is uncommon for chimpanzees as they usually hunt in groups, the use of tools is a well-documented behavior in chimpanzees.

This tool usage is observed in various contexts, such as extracting termites from mounds, cracking nuts, and obtaining otherwise inaccessible food sources. The ability to employ tools enhances their foraging efficiency and contributes significantly to their overall adaptive behavior. This behavior showcases a level of cognitive sophistication in chimpanzees, highlighting their capacity for problem-solving and resource acquisition in their natural habitats.