Page 94 - New Medley 5 Semester 1

chimp called Washoe. This language uses signs instead of sounds. Washoe knew
132 words after four years. Dr Francise Patterson started working with Koko, a
baby gorilla, in 1972. He used to teach her sign language with the help of children’s

picture books. Koko learned 1600 different words. Koko also had a birthday party
every year.

It is also amazing that three groups of birds can also do vocal learning. They
are parrots, songbirds and hummingbirds. An orangutan in Germany, called Tilda,
could whistle like a human, clap her hands, smack her lips and let out human-like

garbled sounds, too. All these facts are indeed fascinating and surprising.

4. RIP VAN WINKLE

Snowball

I made myself a snowball,

As perfect as could be,

I thought I’d keep it as a pet,

And let it sleep with me.

I made it some pajamas,

And a pillow for its head,

Then last night it ran away,

But first – it wet the bed.

—Shel Silverstein

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