雅思阅读 113: Sperm Whales Help Each Other Give Birth

Adapted from 'Scientists saw a sperm whale giving birth. And then things got weird', Scientific American, March 2026.

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Reading Passage

On July 8, 2023, whale biologist Shane Gero was on a boat off the coast of Dominica when he realized something strange was going on. A group of sperm whales known as Unit A, which he and colleagues were tracking, appeared to be floating calmly near the Caribbean Sea surface.

That is not the kind of behavior you normally see, Gero recalls. The whales did not seem to be socializing, and they were not asleep because that happens underwater. And then the whales began diving and rolling, and there was a big gush of blood. His first thought was an attack; earlier that day his team had spotted pilot whales known to show aggression toward sperm whales. But then a little head popped into view, and a fluke. It was not an attack at all; it was a birth.

I was in total shock and awe, he recalls. The crew scrambled to collect photographs and drone footage. Now, in a new analysis of that footage using machine learning, Gero and colleagues show that two matrilines, independent female-led groups of sperm whales in Unit A, appeared to cooperate to assist in the calf birth. This behavior has never been observed in such detail before in this species.

This is really the first time that someone was there before the birth, during labor, during delivery, after, and was able to quantify what was going on, Gero says. He is lead biologist for Project CETI, working to decode whale communication. With video footage, the team showed how the group worked together to lift and hold the newborn near the surface with their bodies. All 11 members of Unit A assisted at one point or another, most of the work done by the mother Rounder, her half-sister Aurora, and Ariel, a young female not directly related to the mother. After a few hours, the two groups returned to their usual segments. The results were published in Science.

Humans typically assist one another during birth, and so do some primates such as bonobos and snub-nosed monkeys. But this kind of behavior had previously been considered characteristic only of humans and their close relatives. It is unclear why the whales gathered to help. Part of the reason could have been defense, to protect the calf from lurking pilot whales.

Questions 1-5

Choose the correct letter, A, B, C or D.

1. When did Gero witness the birth? A. July 8, 2023 B. July 8, 2024 C. June 8, 2023 D. July 8, 2022
2. Where did it happen? A. Off Hawaii B. Off Dominica in the Caribbean C. Off Japan D. Off Norway
3. What are matrilines? A. Male-led groups B. Independent female-led groups C. Pairs of whales D. Orphaned calves
4. How many members of Unit A assisted? A. 3 B. 11 C. 2 D. 20
5. The behavior was previously thought to be unique to A. all mammals B. humans and their close relatives C. fish D. birds

Questions 6-10

Do the following statements agree with the information? Write TRUE, FALSE or NOT GIVEN.

6. Gero initially thought the blood signaled an attack.
7. The newborn was held underwater by the group.
8. All 11 members did equal work.
9. Pilot whales eventually appeared at the scene.
10. The study was published in Nature.

Questions 11-13

Complete the summary. Choose ONE WORD ONLY.

Two 11 groups of sperm whales cooperated during birth. The group lifted and held the newborn near the 12. The behavior may serve as a 13 strategy against predators.

Answers

1. A 2. B 3. B 4. B 5. B
2. TRUE 7. FALSE 8. FALSE 9. TRUE 10. FALSE
3. female-led 12. surface 13. defense

Key Vocabulary

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