ZT-Biology: Squirrels


1. What is the lecture mainly about?

  • A. The California ground squirrel’s two most dangerous predators 
  • B. Different strategies used by California ground squirrels against predators 
  • C. Characteristics of the heat sensing organs of certain venomous snakes 
  • D. Reasons that rattlesnakes are not dangerous to a certain species of squirrel

2. What point does the professor make when she mentions the noise that squirrels make?

  • A. Noise is not an effective deterrent against snakes.
  • B. Communication between members of a species is as important as predator-prey communication.
  • C. Most animals use such noises to discourage predators.
  • D. Most predator-prey communication is well understood.

3. What trait allows adult ground squirrels to confront rattlesnakes?

  • A. They can determine whether a snake is dangerous by its rattle.
  • B. They have the ability to make themselves larger.
  • C. They have an immunity to rattlesnake venom.
  • D. They can move more quickly than rattlesnakes.

4. How did researchers determine the rattlesnakes’ reaction to tail-flagging?

  • A. They used technology in a laboratory setting to simulate conditions in the wild. 
  • B. They observed the rattlesnakes’ behavior when they approached ground squirrels’ nests 
  • C. They observed interactions between rattlesnakes and ground squirrels in a laboratory setting
  • D. They compared rattlesnakes’ reactions to California squirrels and other squirrel species.

5. Why is the ground squirrel’s strategy used only for against rattlesnakes?

  • A. Rattlesnakes can sense heat better than gopher snakes can. 
  • B. Rattlesnakes are larger than gopher snakes.
  • C. Gopher snakes have better vision than rattlesnakes.
  • D. Gopher snakes are much less aggressive than rattlesnakes

6. According to the professor, why is tail-flagging of special interest to researchers?

  • A. It is a rare case of two-way communication between a prey species and its predators.
  • B. It has helped researchers understand how rattlesnakes use their heat-sensitive organs.
  • C. It is a communication strategy that many species use to discourage predators.
  • D. It is the first known example of an anti-predator behavior that involves a change in body temperature.

答案：B A C A A D

