Farewell to the ‘gentle disruptor’
Chimp champion: Jane Goodall's revolutionary chimpanzee research became a potent argument against the idea that humans are unique in their ability to use tools and form complex societies. Comprehension quiz
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What does the word “dogma” mean?
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Which word is the closest synonym for “accolades”?
A: Objections
B: Awards
C: Studies
D: Experiments
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What was the main reason Jane Goodall was encouraged to get a PhD from the University of Cambridge?
A: She needed a degree to apply for funding for her research.
B: Louis Leakey thought science would “take her seriously” if she had one.
C: She wanted to become a professor at a major university.
D: Her chimpanzee research was failing and she needed a new direction.
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Which of the following was NOT a discovery Jane Goodall made about chimpanzees?
A: They make tools by stripping bark from twigs.
B: They are not strictly vegetarian and sometimes eat meat.
C: They have the ability to organise violence and power struggles.
D: They can be taught to communicate using human language.
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According to the article, which two of the following describe how Jane Goodall was treated by some of her male colleagues?
A: They praised her for her observational skills.
B: They dismissed and mocked her close relationships with the animals.
C: They objectified her appearance, commenting on her “nice legs”.
D: They fully supported her being admitted to Cambridge without an undergraduate degree.
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Jane Goodall was described as a “gentle disruptor” and repeatedly preached the value of hope despite decades on the frontline of the fight to conserve the natural world. In your opinion, why is hope such an important value for an environmental activist, and how might being a “gentle disruptor” have helped her success?
Answers
Tap to reveal
1: A set of principles believed to be true, 2: B, 3: B, 4: D, 5: B and C, 6: Your views!
1: A set of principles believed to be true, 2: B, 3: B, 4: D, 5: B and C, 6: Your views!
Glossary
Revolutionise - Change something dramatically.
Esteemed - Greatly respected; admired.
Guarantor - A person or thing that acts as a guarantee. A military could be called the guarantor of a country's security.
Paleoanthropologist - Someone who studies human evolution by analysing fossil remains and archaeological evidence.
Dogma - Belief which is not open for discussion. It comes from a Greek word meaning "decree".
Primate - Any mammal from the group that includes lemurs, lorises, tarsiers, monkeys, apes and humans.
PhD - An abbreviation for a Doctorate of Philosophy. Students study for several years and usually do their own extensive research to gain a PhD.
Objectified - Treated as an object rather than a person.
Accolades - Awards or strong praise.
Disruptor - Someone who challenges established leaders or ideas and comes up with new ways of doing things.