Many people say dolphins (海豚) are intelligent (聪明的). They seem to be able to think, understand, and learn things quickly. But are they as smart as humans, or are they more like cats and dogs? Dolphins use their brains (大脑) quite differently from the way humans do. But scientists say dolphins and humans are alike in some ways. How?
Communication
Like humans, every dolphin has its own "name. " The name is a special whistle (口哨声). Each dolphin chooses a specific whistle for itself, usually by its first birthday. Dolphins are like people in other ways, too. They "talk" to each other about a lot of things — such as their age, their feelings, and finding food. They also use a system of sounds and body language to communicate. Understanding dolphin conversation is not easy for humans. No one "speaks dolphin" yet, but some scientists are trying to learn.
Play
Dolphins are also social animals. They live in groups called pods (一群), and they often join others from different pods to play games and have fun — just like people. Scientists believe playing together is something only intelligent animals do. Dolphins travel together in groups known as pods.
Teamwork
Dolphins and humans are similar in another way: both species (种类) make plans for getting things they want. In the seas of southern Brazil, for example, dolphins use an intelligent strategy (策略) to get food. Dolphins sometimes help fishermen find food. When there are fish near a boat, dolphins signal (向……发信号) to the fishermen to put their nets in the water. Using this method, the men can catch a lot of fish. Why do dolphins assist (协助) the men? There is an advantage for them: they get to eat some of the fish that escape from the net.
