Can animals have a sense of humor Sally Blanchard, publisher of a newsletter called the Pet Bird Report, thinks a pet parrot may have pulled her leg. That’s one explanation for the time her African gray parrot, named Bongo Marie, seemed to feign distress at the possible death of an Amazon parrot named Paco.
It happened one day when Blanchard was making Cornish game hen for dinner. As Blanchard lifted her knife, the African gray threw back its head and said. "Oh, no! Paco!" Trying not to laugh, Blanchard said, "That’s not Paco." and showed Bongo Marie that the Amazon was alive and well. Mimicking a disappointed tone. Bongo Marie said. "Oh. no." and launched into a hoarse laugh.
Was the parrot joking when it seemed to believe the other bird was a goner Did Bongo Marie comprehend Blanchard’s response Studies of African grays have shown that they can understand the meaning of words, for example, that red refers to a color, not just a particular red object. Parrots also enjoy getting a reaction out of humans, and so, whether or not Bongo Marie’s crocodile tears were intentional, the episode was thoroughly satisfying from the parrot’s point of view.
Why did Sally Blanchard believe Bongo Marie made a joke that day
A．It showed sadness and deceived her.
B．It shed crocodile tears intentionally.
C．It pretended to understand her words.
D．It burst into laughter after a distressed ton
