Chapter 13 Adjective Clauses The Think Tank

The Think Tank at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, is an exhibit that is unique. The project, which scientists call the Think Tank (“a place to think about thinking”) examines the biological thinking process of animals. Scientists, who have different opinions about which animal behaviors actually involve thinking, say thought has three elements: image, intention, and flexibility. The scientists at the Think Tank are studying these elements in many different animals, but it is the orangutans who are seen as the stars of the exhibit because they are learning to use symbolic language on a computer.

Use who or that as the subject of an adjective clause. Scientists, who have different opinions about animal behavior, say thought has three elements.

Use who or that as the subject of an adjective clause. The Think Tank at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, is an exhibit that is unique.

Use who(m), which, that, or Ø as the object of the verb in an adjective clause. The project examines the biological thinking process. Scientists call the project the Think Tank. The project, which scientists call the Think Tank, examines the biological thinking process.

Practice 1 Choose all the possible completions. The Think Tank is an exhibit ___ is very interesting. a. who b. that c. which d. Ø e. whom f. it The scientists ___ work there are studying “thinking.” a. who b. that c. which d. Ø e. whom f. they Let’s go to the new exhibit ___ Tom told us about.

Practice 1 Choose all the possible completions. 4. It’s the scientists ___ are studying the orangutans. a. who b. that c. which d. Ø e. whom f. they 5. The Think Tank is a place ___ I’d like to visit. a. who b. that c. which d. Ø e. whom f. it 6. The study ___ goes on all day is open to the public.

The orangutans are the ones whose language ability is being examined The orangutans are the ones whose language ability is being examined. Four orangutans are being trained to use a special computer which is set up so they learn around 70 different symbols. These symbols, which consist of seven categories such as food and verbs, use simple shapes. For example, a rectangle by itself means “food”. Scientists want to see if once the orangutans learn the symbols, they can put
words together to express thoughts. The orangutans visit the Think Tank when they want, and their participation is voluntary. The building where they live is linked to The Think Tank by cables that they can travel back and forth on. On days when they go to the Think Tank, they can choose if they want to participate or just watch.

Use whose to show possession in adjective clauses. The orangutans are the ones whose language ability is being examined. Whose language ability is being studied? The orangutans.

Use when to modify a noun of time in adjective clauses. On days when they go to the Think Tank, they can choose if they want to participate or just watch. What does ‘when” refer to? On days they go to the Think Tank.

Use where to modify a place. The building where they live is linked to The Think Tank by cables. The building Which place is “where” referring to? The Think Tank

Practice 2 Make one sentence out of the two sentences by using adjective clauses. 1. The Think Tank is in the zoo. All this activity takes place is in The Think Tank. The Think tank, where all this activity takes place, is in the zoo. 2. The scientists study the animals. The animals are awake then. The scientists study the animals when they are awake. 3. Here are some children. Their parents have brought them to the zoo. Here are some children whose parents have brought them to the zoo.

Review Complete the sentences. More than one answer may be possible Review Complete the sentences. More than one answer may be possible. Discuss your choices. 1. The symbols have no visual relationship to the words _____ they represent. a. who b. that c. which d. Ø e. whom f. where 2. The Think Tank is the only place in the world _____ visitors have free access to this type of research. a. who b. that c. which d. Ø e. where f. when

Review Complete the sentences. More than one answer may be possible Review Complete the sentences. More than one answer may be possible. Discuss your choices. 3. The words _____ the orangutans are learning will be used to form simple sentences. a. who b. that c. which d. Ø e. whom f. where 4. How do the orangutans make the connection from the word to the thing _____ it represents? a. who b. that c. which d. Ø e. whom f. when