Justlikechildrenbabyanimalsspendcountlesshoursatplay.Afterstudyinganimalplayformanyyearsscientistsrecognizethatyounganimalplayispracticeforadultbehavior.Todaythisplayisroughlydividedintothefollowinggroups.

Locomotorplayreferstothemovementsanimalscarryoutintheirplay.Runningleapingturningandkickingaresomeofthemostcommonexamplesoflocomotorplay.Anadultdeermayrunleapandtwist(曲折前进)toescapeitsattackers.Playmovementslikethesesurelymakeyounganimalsnimble.Somedaytheseskillsmighthelpsavetheirlives.

Movingforwardslowlyattackingsuddenly.andbitingareexamplesofpredatoryplaythathelpyoungpredators(食肉动物)prepareforalifeofrunningafterandtakingholdofotheranimals.Wildcatswolvesandbearsarepredators.Itisverycommontoseetheseyounganimalsplaythiskindofgameswhichsharpentheirskillsandteachthemabouttheirstrengthsandlimitations.

Forchildrenplayingwithtoysisbothfunandeducational.Ithelpsimprovetheirhandandeyemovementsaswellasdevelophandskillstoaccomplishtasks.Itisthesamewithanimals.Youngchimpanzeesimprovetheirhandskillswhileplayingwithsticks.Birdsalsoplaywiththingsinwaysthatteach.Swallowsdropandrecoverfeathersinmidair.Divingsuddenlytocatchthefeathersisgoodpracticeforcatchingflyinginsects.

Socialplayhelpsanimalslearnhowtobehavewhentheyrunintootheranimals.Anditteachesanimalsaboutcommunication.Ananimalgivessignalstoletanotheranimalknowitwantstoplay.Manyanimalsgivesignalsbyshowinga"playface".Insomewaysthisfaceislikeahumansmile;theanimalholdsitsmouthinarelaxedandopenmanner.Duringplay-fightssomeanimalsmaystepbackwardstosignalthattheyareplayingandnotactingseriously.

Untilnowscientistshaveunderstoodplayfulactshelpprepareanimalsfortheirseriousadultsituations.Butthenumbersofplayfulspeciesandexamplesofanimalplayarevast.Thepurposeofanimalplaymayhavemeaningsscientistshavenotdiscoveredyet.

1.Themainpurposeofthetextisto______.

A.askustotakegoodcareofwildanimals

B.encourageustolearnmoreaboutanimals

C.entertainuswithinterestingani