English Reading Practice - 0012 Caged Animals

Observations have revealed that there are probably four main ways in which animals in confined spaces try to overcome their monotony. The first is to invent new motor patterns for themselves such as new exercises and gymnastics. They may also try to increase the complexity of their environment by creating new stimulus situations: many carnivores play with their food as though it were a living animal. Alternatively the animal may increase the quantity of its reaction to normal stimuli. Hypersexuality is one common response to this type of behavior. Finally, they may increase the variability of their response to stimuli such as food. Many animals can be seen playing, pawing, advancing, and retreating from their food before eating it. These observations of caged animals lead us to think how far studies of this sort can throw light on human behavior under similar conditions.