MY LIFE WITH THE CHIMPANZEES

A National Geographic production depicting Dr. Goodall's life and work with the chimpanzees.

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Answer Review Questions (below)

Email responses to Mrs. Nuño at jdenuno@mhs-la.org

1. Describe the evolutionary relationship between the apes, especially chimps, and people.
2. How did Dr. Goodall end up at the Gombe Preserve?
3. Describe an example of each of the following: dominant behavior grooming behavior play behavior submissive behavior greeting behavior alpha male
4. Why has the position of alpha male evolved in chimp troops? (Is your answer a “fact’ or a “hypothesis”? Explain)
5. Why was Flo such a successful chimp mother?
6. How did Mike become an alpha male?
7. How is grooming behavior adaptive for the troop?
8. Learning is much more important in chimps than in ants. Consider the life spans and the nature of relationships in each species:
   • a. Why is learning more important in long-lived, social species like chimps?
   • b. What is play and why is play so important for chimps?
   • c. Do ants play? Explain.
9. Why are social behaviors so important in chimps?
10. What did Jane apply to her own parenting practices?
11. Jane had strong feelings for the chimps she studied. Did this affect her scientific objectivity or accuracy? Explain.
12. When the troop splintered, why did “chimp warfare” occur? What are the lessons for humans in this tragic example. Why is this not an objective question?
13. Compare Mike’s and Goblin’s styles as leaders. When they grew weak and old, what were the consequences on their leadership styles? Does this apply in some way to humans as well? Explain.
14. Why do lab-based researchers not make discoveries like Dr. Goodall’s? Discuss different “scientific method” styles.
15. Reflect on a few new insights this video of Jane Goodall’s research gave you.