Reading. The gorilla's chest-beating

THE GORILLA'S CHEST-BEATING

Why does a gorilla beat its chest? It depends on the gorilla - and on the situation. In some instances, the flamboyant and intimidating gesture may be just what it seems: a warning to keep away. When truly aroused, the leader of the gorilla troop rises and drums his chest rapidly, palms open and slightly cupped. Then he explodes into a charge which may or may not be a bluff. Scientists who have been charged at by gorillas report that the animals almost always stop short of violence - unless the human intruder responds in a hostile manner. Sometimes chest-beating is only an

expression of relief after the danger has passed, a means of keeping in touch with other gorillas in the troop, or a way of warning other troops away from the feeding area. Some gorillas, especially the young ones, often beat their chests as expressions of high spirits. One thing the gorilla does not

do is stage a victory celebration by drumming furiously on his chest after he has just cracked an opponent's spine. That sort of thing happens only in the movies.

EXERCISE 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:

COLUMN A COLUMN B

a) exaggeratedly confident and noticeable

b) frightening in a way that forces or compels somebody to do something

c) make a sound by beating or tapping continuously

d) inside surface of the hand

e) curved in shape, e.g. of the hand

f) move suddenly and energetically

g) deception; attempt to make somebody wrongly believe that you will do something

h) person or thing that enters a place where he or it is not wanted

i) cheerfulness (phrase)

j) backbone

EXERCISE 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.

1. One function of a gorilla's chest-beating is

A) to frighten younger gorillas with overly high spirits

B) the celebration of a recent victory

C) to call the other troop members to the feeding area

D) to establish which gorilla is the leader of a troop

E) communication with the other members of the troop

2. According to the passage

A) scientists have found shorter gorillas to be more violent

B) only the leader of the troop of gorillas beats his chest

C) gorillas beat their chests for various reasons

D) a gorilla's charge never needs to be taken seriously

E) gorillas are easily trained to appear in films

3. After a fight with his opponent, the gorilla

A) does not act triumphantly

B) beats his chest as an expression of relief

C) breaks the opponent's backbone

D) drums his chest furiously

E) behaves exactly as portrayed in films