Watch the birdie! Step 5

1. [Multiple choice]

Birds living in major cities sing ……………… forest birds of the same species.

(City birds sped up their songs by shortening the first note of each set of notes, as well as the pauses between them)

Answers for Quiz [1].

• 1. exactly the same songs at the same speed as
• 2. faster songs than (correct)

2. [Multiple choice]

Country birds’ singing is ……… that of birds in cities.

(Research indicated that birdsong was ‘less melodious’ from birds singing in cities than when they lived in a rural environment.)

Answers for Quiz [2].

• 1. just as pleasant (or unpleasant) as
• 2. less pleasant than
• 3. more pleasing than (correct)

3. [Multiple choice]

Birds in the country sing ……… birds in cities.

(Urban birds sing more loudly than when they live in the country. The article mentions the same phenomenon from birds singing in noisy laboratories!)

Answers for Quiz [3].

• 1. more quietly than
  (correct)
• 2. at just the same volume as
• 3. more loudly than

4. [Multiple choice]

Birds living in major cities sing ………….. birds in their more usual rural habitat.

Answers for Quiz [4].

• 1. higher-pitched songs than (correct)
• 2. lower-pitched songs than
• 3. identical songs to those of

5. [Multiple choice]

Birds living in major cities sing ………….. birds of the same species living in the country.

Answers for Quiz [5].

• 1. songs of the same length as
• 2. shorter songs than (correct)
• 3. longer songs than

6. [Multiple choice]

Singing is …………..

(Singing is crucial for males as they use their songs to attract mates and mark out their territory)

Answers for Quiz [6].

• 1. of equal importance for male and female birds.
• 2. more important for female birds than male.
• 3. more important for male birds than female. (correct)

7. [Multiple choice]

Urban birdsong varies according to which European city the birds live in.

(No – the songs of the great tits living in cities all showed the same kinds of changes.
‘Yes, and it might pick up a different accent, too!’ is an answering joke, indicating complete disbelief, and that the person answering this thinks the questioner is having a joke at his / her expense.
)

Answers for Quiz [7].

• 1. Yes, definitely.
• 2. Yes, and it might pick up a different accent, too!
• 3. No it doesn’t. (correct)

8. [Multiple choice]

Do you consider city birds actually learn to sing a more varied range of songs than rural ones?

(City birds sing more varied songs than their rural counterparts.)

Answers for Quiz [8].

• 1. Yes. they do. (correct)
• 2. No, they don’t.

9. [Multiple choice]

City life makes our feathered friends change their tunes.

Answers for Quiz [9].

• 1. Of course not, I’ve never heard such a ridiculous idea in my life!
• 2. Pull the other one! (ie, You’re joking!)
• 3. No, government cuts in music tuition have resulted in many birds being tone-deaf these days, unfortunately.
• 4. Yes, it’s as a result of the noise and stress of modern living. (correct)

10. [Multiple choice]

Which of these birds is said to have the most complex and beautiful birdsong?

(The most complex and lovely birdsong is said to be that of the nightingale.)

Answers for Quiz [10].

• 1. The great tit.
• 2. The robin.
• 3. The song sparrow.
• 4. The nightingale. (correct)
• 5. The house finch.