What Do Flies Think About? by Ideas & Discoveries Magazine (1) It seems unbelievable, but an insect’s brain is more brilliant than any supercomputer.That’s why researchers are studying flies and bees to understand their cognition. Food for thought . . . (2) Though it may seem like a mundane question, there is serious science behind it: Why is a common housefly able to land on a ceiling? After all, the insect flies with its feet down when it’s below the ceiling, yet, in the blink of an eye, the fly is suddenly perched with feet upward. The explanation for the fly’s aerial feat is important because it can reveal a lot about what the insect’s brain is capable of: Regardless of how the fly manages the landing, its tiny brain (which consists of only 100,000 nerve cells) has to go into high gear to carry it out. For a long time, scientists believed the flies turn around in flight much like a fighter pilot performs loops. This would require them to first “visualize” a mental rotation—in other words, to plan the loop beforehand. (3) It was only recently that researchers discovered how a fly actually lands on a ceiling. Using a high-speed camera, they discovered that flies don’t perform a loop after all. Instead, they stretch out their front legs over their head and toward the ceiling. As soon as the legs make contact with the ceiling, the fly swings its body around 180 degrees like a gymnast on a horizontal bar. Then it simply attaches itself to the ceiling with all its legs. This precision landing requires perfect coordination of all its muscles. The fly’s swinging motion also needs to be calculated, which means information shoots through its body in the space of milliseconds. Not even an autopilot system controlled by a high-tech computer could carry out such a maneuver. (4) Bees are a favorite experimental creature for researchers because they are easy to breed and are considered the “Einsteins” of the insect world. These striped geniuses perform intellectual feats that cannot be taken for granted, even among mammals. Bees can count, distinguish between objects like humans and dogs, recognize complex shapes, learn things, navigate across great distances and remember their routes, and return to their hives and tell other bees exactly where the tastiest flowers are. Compare that with the difficulties humans can have when finding their way around an unfamiliar city without a map—not to mention having to describe to friends the route they took. “Brain size is not necessarily an indicator of intelligence,” says bee researcher Lars Chittka at Queen Mary, University of London. “Larger brains usually utilize the same circuits over and over again. This might make for more detailed thinking or remembering, but it doesn’t guarantee the thoughts or memories will be better.” (5) Bees are also social insects that create complex colony systems and display a high degree of social behavior. The idea of life in a group is firmly rooted in their brains—which is what makes bees so interesting to brain researchers. We, too, are social creatures, after all, and scientists suspect that certain neuronal circuits have changed very little over the course of evolution. In other words, bee brains could provide us with information on nerve connections that will help us better understand our own human nature and how we think. (6) Researchers already know that insects living in groups need to have more computing power in their head. This is illustrated by the fact that all social insects have a larger brain than their loner counterparts. A key factor in this discovery was a study conducted by biologists at a Smithsonian lab in Panama. The country is home to a bee species that contains some members that live alone and others that form groups. The biologists discovered that the loner bees also had a smaller brain. So it appears that a larger brain is a consequence of group living. The same phenomenon is even more pronounced among several species of locusts that begin life alone and later join up to form giant swarms: As soon as they get together, their brains begin to grow by one-third. It’s likely they need to possess greater thinking capacity in order to compete with rivals in the swarm. It’s also likely that flying and communicating in a swarm is more difficult than doing those things alone. The biologists still don’t know how locusts get their brains to grow. The explanation, should it be found, might be of interest to medical researchers looking into treatments for paralysis or strokes. In any case, the researchers have found substances in the locusts’ brain that are extremely effective at killing bacteria. These substances are not related to any known antibiotics, so they could possibly pave the way for new medications in the future. (7) Such discoveries are definitely pointing scientists in a new direction. However, practically no insect brain researcher has gone as far as Atsushi Takashima at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan. Takashima has inserted electrodes into the brains of male moths that he then uses as control units for a robot. Whenever the moth-machine hybrid catches the scent of a female moth, it begins to search for the source. “Chemical substances do not spread out uniformly in air,” Takashima explains. “So even though their concentrations increase as you get closer to their source, the effects of wind and air currents make an analysis extremely difficult. But thanks to evolution, insect brains have developed techniques to get around this problem.” Takashima’s research has significant applications: His goal is to create robots that can sniff out explosives or dangerous chemicals in the air and locate their source. One day a processor will control such robots, but for now, a moth’s brain is far superior to any supercomputer on the market. Question 1 The author compares flies to fighter pilots in lines 9 and 10 of paragraph 2 to show that flies are(1 point) Responses complicated complicated forceful forceful skillful skillful mysterious mysterious Question 2 The sentences in lines 7 through 11 of paragraph 3 develop a key concept of the article by(1 point) Responses demonstrating how carefully a fly must target its landing place demonstrating how carefully a fly must target its landing place revealing the difficulty of conducting research on how a fly lands revealing the difficulty of conducting research on how a fly lands illustrating the complexity of the process a fly’s brain must control illustrating the complexity of the process a fly’s brain must control explaining how rapidly the fly’s landing occurs after it makes a loop explaining how rapidly the fly’s landing occurs after it makes a loop Question 3 What information best develops the view that bees are “the ‘Einsteins’ of the insect world” (line 2 of pargraph 4)?(1 point) Responses the discussion about the larger brain sizes of bees the discussion about the larger brain sizes of bees the list of intellectual feats that bees can accomplish the list of intellectual feats that bees can accomplish the reasons that researchers are interested in studying bees the reasons that researchers are interested in studying bees the information about the complex colonies that bees live in the information about the complex colonies that bees live in Question 4 Which central idea of the article is most supported by paragraph 5?(1 point) Responses Social insects develop larger brains. Social insects develop larger brains. Brain structures have changed little over time. Brain structures have changed little over time. Bee colonies can help us understand social systems. Bee colonies can help us understand social systems. Insect brains can help us understand the human brain. Insect brains can help us understand the human brain. Question 5 Which evidence from the article best supports the claim in lines 1 through 3 of paragraph 6?(1 point) Responses “Larger brains usually utilize the same circuits over and over again.” (line 11 and 12 of paragraph 4) “Larger brains usually utilize the same circuits over and over again.” (line 11 and 12 of paragraph 4) “The idea of life in a group is firmly rooted in their brains—which is what makes bees so interesting to brain researchers.” (lines 2 through 4 of paragraph 5) “The idea of life in a group is firmly rooted in their brains—which is what makes bees so interesting to brain researchers.” (lines 2 through 4 of paragraph 5) “We, too, are social creatures, after all, and scientists suspect that certain neuronal circuits have changed very little over the course of evolution.” (lines 3 through 7 of paragraph 5) “We, too, are social creatures, after all, and scientists suspect that certain neuronal circuits have changed very little over the course of evolution.” (lines 3 through 7 of paragraph 5) “It’s likely they need to possess greater thinking capacity in order to compete with rivals in the swarm.” (lines 13 through 16 of paragraph 5) “It’s likely they need to possess greater thinking capacity in order to compete with rivals in the swarm.” (lines 13 through 16 of paragraph 5) Question 6 What is the most likely reason for including information about the Smithsonian laboratory in Panama? (1 point) Responses to emphasize the results of a major study about bees to emphasize the results of a major study about bees to illustrate why biologists should conduct bee research to illustrate why biologists should conduct bee research to point out that biologists still know very little about locust brains to point out that biologists still know very little about locust brains to provide evidence that other countries are performing studies of locust brains to provide evidence that other countries are performing studies of locust brains Question 7 Paragraph 7 suggests that the author believes(1 point) Responses the study of moths will reveal changes in insect brains the study of moths will reveal changes in insect brains the study of moths can provide ways to enhance technology the study of moths can provide ways to enhance technology moth research will teach scientists more about the human brain moth research will teach scientists more about the human brain scientists should develop more advanced methods of moth research scientists should develop more advanced methods of moth research Skip to navigation

Question

What Do Flies Think About? by Ideas & Discoveries Magazine (1) It seems unbelievable, but an insect’s brain is more brilliant than any supercomputer.That’s why researchers are studying flies and bees to understand their cognition. Food for thought . . . (2) Though it may seem like a mundane question, there is serious science behind it: Why is a common housefly able to land on a ceiling? After all, the insect flies with its feet down when it’s below the ceiling, yet, in the blink of an eye, the fly is suddenly perched with feet upward. The explanation for the fly’s aerial feat is important because it can reveal a lot about what the insect’s brain is capable of: Regardless of how the fly manages the landing, its tiny brain (which consists of only 100,000 nerve cells) has to go into high gear to carry it out. For a long time, scientists believed the flies turn around in flight much like a fighter pilot performs loops. This would require them to first “visualize” a mental rotation—in other words, to plan the loop beforehand. (3) It was only recently that researchers discovered how a fly actually lands on a ceiling. Using a high-speed camera, they discovered that flies don’t perform a loop after all. Instead, they stretch out their front legs over their head and toward the ceiling. As soon as the legs make contact with the ceiling, the fly swings its body around 180 degrees like a gymnast on a horizontal bar. Then it simply attaches itself to the ceiling with all its legs. This precision landing requires perfect coordination of all its muscles. The fly’s swinging motion also needs to be calculated, which means information shoots through its body in the space of milliseconds. Not even an autopilot system controlled by a high-tech computer could carry out such a maneuver. (4) Bees are a favorite experimental creature for researchers because they are easy to breed and are considered the “Einsteins” of the insect world. These striped geniuses perform intellectual feats that cannot be taken for granted, even among mammals. Bees can count, distinguish between objects like humans and dogs, recognize complex shapes, learn things, navigate across great distances and remember their routes, and return to their hives and tell other bees exactly where the tastiest flowers are. Compare that with the difficulties humans can have when finding their way around an unfamiliar city without a map—not to mention having to describe to friends the route they took. “Brain size is not necessarily an indicator of intelligence,” says bee researcher Lars Chittka at Queen Mary, University of London. “Larger brains usually utilize the same circuits over and over again. This might make for more detailed thinking or remembering, but it doesn’t guarantee the thoughts or memories will be better.” (5) Bees are also social insects that create complex colony systems and display a high degree of social behavior. The idea of life in a group is firmly rooted in their brains—which is what makes bees so interesting to brain researchers. We, too, are social creatures, after all, and scientists suspect that certain neuronal circuits have changed very little over the course of evolution. In other words, bee brains could provide us with information on nerve connections that will help us better understand our own human nature and how we think. (6) Researchers already know that insects living in groups need to have more computing power in their head. This is illustrated by the fact that all social insects have a larger brain than their loner counterparts. A key factor in this discovery was a study conducted by biologists at a Smithsonian lab in Panama. The country is home to a bee species that contains some members that live alone and others that form groups. The biologists discovered that the loner bees also had a smaller brain. So it appears that a larger brain is a consequence of group living. The same phenomenon is even more pronounced among several species of locusts that begin life alone and later join up to form giant swarms: As soon as they get together, their brains begin to grow by one-third. It’s likely they need to possess greater thinking capacity in order to compete with rivals in the swarm. It’s also likely that flying and communicating in a swarm is more difficult than doing those things alone. The biologists still don’t know how locusts get their brains to grow. The explanation, should it be found, might be of interest to medical researchers looking into treatments for paralysis or strokes. In any case, the researchers have found substances in the locusts’ brain that are extremely effective at killing bacteria. These substances are not related to any known antibiotics, so they could possibly pave the way for new medications in the future. (7) Such discoveries are definitely pointing scientists in a new direction. However, practically no insect brain researcher has gone as far as Atsushi Takashima at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in Japan. Takashima has inserted electrodes into the brains of male moths that he then uses as control units for a robot. Whenever the moth-machine hybrid catches the scent of a female moth, it begins to search for the source. “Chemical substances do not spread out uniformly in air,” Takashima explains. “So even though their concentrations increase as you get closer to their source, the effects of wind and air currents make an analysis extremely difficult. But thanks to evolution, insect brains have developed techniques to get around this problem.” Takashima’s research has significant applications: His goal is to create robots that can sniff out explosives or dangerous chemicals in the air and locate their source. One day a processor will control such robots, but for now, a moth’s brain is far superior to any supercomputer on the market. Question 1 The author compares flies to fighter pilots in lines 9 and 10 of paragraph 2 to show that flies are(1 point) Responses complicated complicated forceful forceful skillful skillful mysterious mysterious Question 2 The sentences in lines 7 through 11 of paragraph 3 develop a key concept of the article by(1 point) Responses demonstrating how carefully a fly must target its landing place demonstrating how carefully a fly must target its landing place revealing the difficulty of conducting research on how a fly lands revealing the difficulty of conducting research on how a fly lands illustrating the complexity of the process a fly’s brain must control illustrating the complexity of the process a fly’s brain must control explaining how rapidly the fly’s landing occurs after it makes a loop explaining how rapidly the fly’s landing occurs after it makes a loop Question 3 What information best develops the view that bees are “the ‘Einsteins’ of the insect world” (line 2 of pargraph 4)?(1 point) Responses the discussion about the larger brain sizes of bees the discussion about the larger brain sizes of bees the list of intellectual feats that bees can accomplish the list of intellectual feats that bees can accomplish the reasons that researchers are interested in studying bees the reasons that researchers are interested in studying bees the information about the complex colonies that bees live in the information about the complex colonies that bees live in Question 4 Which central idea of the article is most supported by paragraph 5?(1 point) Responses Social insects develop larger brains. Social insects develop larger brains. Brain structures have changed little over time. Brain structures have changed little over time. Bee colonies can help us understand social systems. Bee colonies can help us understand social systems. Insect brains can help us understand the human brain. Insect brains can help us understand the human brain. Question 5 Which evidence from the article best supports the claim in lines 1 through 3 of paragraph 6?(1 point) Responses “Larger brains usually utilize the same circuits over and over again.” (line 11 and 12 of paragraph 4) “Larger brains usually utilize the same circuits over and over again.” (line 11 and 12 of paragraph 4) “The idea of life in a group is firmly rooted in their brains—which is what makes bees so interesting to brain researchers.” (lines 2 through 4 of paragraph 5) “The idea of life in a group is firmly rooted in their brains—which is what makes bees so interesting to brain researchers.” (lines 2 through 4 of paragraph 5) “We, too, are social creatures, after all, and scientists suspect that certain neuronal circuits have changed very little over the course of evolution.” (lines 3 through 7 of paragraph 5) “We, too, are social creatures, after all, and scientists suspect that certain neuronal circuits have changed very little over the course of evolution.” (lines 3 through 7 of paragraph 5) “It’s likely they need to possess greater thinking capacity in order to compete with rivals in the swarm.” (lines 13 through 16 of paragraph 5) “It’s likely they need to possess greater thinking capacity in order to compete with rivals in the swarm.” (lines 13 through 16 of paragraph 5) Question 6 What is the most likely reason for including information about the Smithsonian laboratory in Panama? (1 point) Responses to emphasize the results of a major study about bees to emphasize the results of a major study about bees to illustrate why biologists should conduct bee research to illustrate why biologists should conduct bee research to point out that biologists still know very little about locust brains to point out that biologists still know very little about locust brains to provide evidence that other countries are performing studies of locust brains to provide evidence that other countries are performing studies of locust brains Question 7 Paragraph 7 suggests that the author believes(1 point) Responses the study of moths will reveal changes in insect brains the study of moths will reveal changes in insect brains the study of moths can provide ways to enhance technology the study of moths can provide ways to enhance technology moth research will teach scientists more about the human brain moth research will teach scientists more about the human brain scientists should develop more advanced methods of moth research scientists should develop more advanced methods of moth research Skip to navigation

Answer 1

Question 1: The author compares flies to fighter pilots in lines 9 and 10 of paragraph 2 to show that flies are skillful.

Question 2: The sentences in lines 7 through 11 of paragraph 3 develop a key concept of the article by illustrating the complexity of the process a fly’s brain must control.

Question 3: The list of intellectual feats that bees can accomplish best develops the view that bees are "the 'Einsteins' of the insect world" (line 2 of paragraph 4).

Question 4: The central idea of the article most supported by paragraph 5 is that insect brains can help us understand the human brain.

Question 5: The evidence from the article that best supports the claim in lines 1 through 3 of paragraph 6 is "Larger brains usually utilize the same circuits over and over again" (line 11 and 12 of paragraph 4).

Question 6: The most likely reason for including information about the Smithsonian laboratory in Panama is to emphasize the results of a major study about bees.

Question 7: The paragraph 7 suggests that the author believes the study of moths can provide ways to enhance technology.