Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in an environmental science class. Professor: Today we're going to talk about a fascinating phenomenon called 'biomimicry'—that's when humans imitate nature's designs to solve complex problems. One classic example is the kingfisher bird. The kingfisher dives into water at high speed to catch fish, and its long, narrow beak allows it to enter the water with minimal splash. Engineers noticed this and applied the shape to the front of Japanese bullet trains. The original train design created a loud boom when exiting tunnels due to air pressure changes, but the kingfisher-inspired nose reduced the noise and also improved energy efficiency by about 15 percent. Another example is the lotus leaf, which has microscopic bumps that cause water to bead up and roll off, carrying dirt with it. This 'self-cleaning' effect has been used to create water-repellent paint and fabrics. These innovations show that by studying nature, we can create sustainable solutions that are both effective and environmentally friendly. So, the key takeaway is that nature has already solved many of the problems we face today—we just need to look closely.
❓ Câu hỏi According to the professor, what problem did the kingfisher-inspired design solve for Japanese bullet trains?
A. A. The trains were too slow.
B. B. The trains created a loud boom when exiting tunnels.
C. C. The trains used too much electricity for lighting.
D. D. The trains had difficulty stopping at stations.
✅ Đáp án đúng
B. The trains created a loud boom when exiting tunnels.
TOEFL Listening Tips
Skim the questions first to predict the content
Watch for signal words in lectures and conversations (however, actually, in fact)
For main idea questions, focus on the beginning; for detail questions, focus on examples and data
For attitude questions, pay attention to the speaker's tone and word choice
Take notes on keywords; don't try to write down every word
