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The Think Tank

Adjective Clauses

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The Think Tank at the National Zoo in Washington, DC, is

an exhibit that is unique. The project, which scientists call

the Think Tank (“a place to think about thinking”) examines

the biological thinking process of animals. Scientists, who

have different opinions about which animal behaviors

actually involve thinking, say thought has three elements:

image, intention, and flexibility. The scientists at the Think

Tank are studying these elements in many different animals,

but it is the orangutans who are seen as the stars of the

exhibit because they are learning to use symbolic language

on a computer.

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Scientists who have different opinions about

animal behavior, say thought has three

elements.

who

Use who or that as the subject of an

adjective clause.

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The Think Tank at the National Zoo in

Washington, DC, is an exhibit that is unique.

that

Use who or that as the subject of an

adjective clause.

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The project examines the biological thinking

process.

Scientists call the project the Think Tank.

The project, which scientists call the

Think Tank, examines the biological

thinking process.

Use who(m), which, that, or Ǿ as the object

of the verb in an adjective clause.

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1. The Think Tank is an exhibit ___ is very interesting.

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. whom f. it

2. The scientists ___ work there are studying “thinking.”

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. whom f. they

3. Let’s go to the new exhibit ___ Tom told us about.

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. whom f. it

Practice 1

Choose all the possible completions.

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4. It’s the scientists ___ are studying the orangutans.

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. whom f. they

5. The Think Tank is a place ___ I’d like to visit.

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. whom f. it

6. The study ___ goes on all day is open to the public.

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. whom f. it

Practice 1

Choose all the possible completions.

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The orangutans are the ones whose language ability is

being examined. Four orangutans are being trained to use a

special computer which is set up so they learn around 70

different symbols. These symbols, which consist of seven

categories such as food and verbs, use simple shapes. For

example, a rectangle by itself means “food”. Scientists want

to see if once the orangutans learn the symbols, they can

put words together to express thoughts. The orangutans

visit the Think Tank when they want, and their participation

is voluntary. The building where they live is linked to The

Think Tank by cables that they can travel back and forth on.

On days when they go to the Think Tank, they can choose if

they want to participate or just watch.

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whose

The orangutans are the ones whose language

ability is being examined.

Whose language ability is

being studied?

The orangutans.

Use whose to show possession in

adjective clauses.

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when

On days when they go to the Think Tank,

they can choose if they want to participate

or just watch.

What does ‘when” refer to?

On days they go to the

Think Tank.

Use when to modify a noun of time

in adjective clauses.

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where

The building where they live is linked to The

Think Tank by cables.

Which place is

“where” referring to?

The building

The Think Tank

Use where to modify a place.

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3. Here are some children. Their parents have brought them to

the zoo.

2. The scientists study the animals. The animals are awake

then.

1. The Think Tank is in the zoo. All this activity takes place is

in The Think Tank.

Here are some children whose parents have

brought them to the zoo.

The scientists study the animals when they are

awake.

The Think tank, where all this activity takes

place, is in the zoo.

Practice 2

Make one sentence out of the two sentences by using

adjective clauses.

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1. The symbols have no visual relationship to the

words _____ they represent.

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. whom f. where

2. The Think Tank is the only place in the world _____

visitors have free access to this type of research.

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. where f. when

Review

Complete the sentences. More than one answer may be

possible. Discuss your choices.

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3. The words _____ the orangutans are learning will

be used to form simple sentences.

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. whom f. where

4. How do the orangutans make the connection from

the word to the thing _____ it represents?

a. who b. that c. which d. Ǿ e. whom f. when

Review

Complete the sentences. More than one answer may be

possible. Discuss your choices.

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The End

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