Lesson
Dogs' Brains Shrink Over 5,000 Years
A study reveals that dogs' brains began to shrink at least 5,000 years ago, suggesting insights into their domestication without implying they are less intelligent than wolves.
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Standard — Natural English
64 words · ~1 min readLesson audio
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Test your understanding
Test your understanding
01When did dogs' brains begin to shrink?
02What does the reduction in brain size not imply?
03Who is the first author of the study?
Discussion
Discussion
How do you think the domestication of dogs has influenced their behavior and intelligence?
Vocabulary
Vocabulary
domestication word
the process of taming animals for human use
“The domestication of dogs began thousands of years ago.”
intelligence word
the ability to learn and understand
“Dogs have a high level of intelligence when it comes to understanding humans.”
research word
a careful study to discover new information
“The research provided new insights into dog evolution.”
evolution word
the gradual development of species over time
“The evolution of dogs from wolves is a fascinating topic.”
skull word
the bony structure of the head
“The researchers studied the skulls of ancient dogs and wolves.”