The Rat Race
PET Reading Part 5
Scientists have done something surprising with rats. They have taught rats to drive small cars in a laboratory. Dr Kelly Lambert from the USA has studied these car-driving rats since 2019. She said the rats not only learned how to drive but also seemed to it. She explained that the rats were very motivated and often jumped into the car before it moving.
Dr Lambert wanted to learn how rats and learn new skills. In her experiment, she put one group of rats in a space with toys and other rats to play with. The other group had no toys and fewer friends. Both groups learned to drive because they knew they would get a , but the rats in the fun environment learned .
Dr Lambert said this shows that a more interesting environment helps the brain change and grow, which is called . This means the brain can create new when it something new. This research helps us understand how complex environments can improve in all animals.
True or False
1. Rats drove tiny cars in a science lab.
True False2. The rats had to pass a driving test to get a license.
True False3. Rats enjoyed driving so much they jumped into the cars.
True False4. Dr. Lambert trained the rats to cook after they learned to drive.
True False5. The rats learned faster with their friends.
True False6. The experiment showed that the brain can change and grow.
True False7. The rats learned to drive because they wanted to escape the lab.
True False8. The research proves rats are better drivers than humans.
True False
