Final answer:
The statement that the modification of natural objects for use as tools has implications for nonhuman primate intelligence is true. Observations of primates using and modifying tools provide insights into cognitive abilities that are foundational for technologies and may shed light on the origins of human intelligence and language.
Step-by-step explanation:
The assertion that the modification of natural objects for use as tools has several implications for nonhuman primate intelligence is true. Through the observation of primates such as chimpanzees using and modifying tools, researchers like Jane Goodall and biological anthropologists can glean insight into the cognitive abilities and socio-cultural behaviors that mirror the early stages of human intelligence and technology.
For instance, chimpanzees have been observed stripping leaves from twigs to make termite fishing tools or sharpening sticks to use as spears for hunting, demonstrating insight and problem-solving. This manipulation and improvisation of tools suggest that primates have a certain level of cognitive planning and understanding of cause-effect relationships, which are believed to be precursors to more complex abilities such as speech and language in hominins, such as Homo habilis and Homo erectus.
Moreover, anthropologists have also explored the role of imitation in the evolution of tool-use, postulating that the ability for primates to imitate actions could have led to the earliest forms of communication, laying the groundwork for language development. These capacities not only highlight the intelligence of nonhuman primates but also stress the importance of their conservation as they face threats from habitat loss, illegal hunting, and the pet trade.