Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. The professor is discussing the behavior of certain birds.
Professor: Now, let's talk about a fascinating behavior among some bird species, particularly the New Caledonian crow. These crows are known for their remarkable ability to use tools, but what’s even more interesting is their problem-solving skills. In one experiment, researchers presented the crows with a puzzle: a piece of food was placed in a small container, and a stick was provided, but the stick was too short to reach the food. However, the crows figured out that they could use the stick to pull a longer stick from a nearby box, and then use that longer stick to retrieve the food. This showed not just tool use but also a capacity for planning and understanding cause and effect. Moreover, when the crows were given multiple tools, they often chose the correct one on their first try, which suggests they have a mental representation of the task. This level of cognition is quite advanced for birds and has led researchers to compare their intelligence to that of great apes. So, what does this tell us about the evolution of intelligence?
❓ Câu hỏi What does the professor say about the New Caledonian crows in the experiment?
A. They used a stick to directly reach the food without any difficulty.
B. They demonstrated an ability to solve problems by using multiple tools in sequence.
C. They relied on trial and error to eventually get the food.
D. They were unable to complete the task without human assistance.
✅ Đáp án đúng
They demonstrated an ability to solve problems by using multiple tools in sequence.
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
