Narrator: Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class.
Professor: So, we've been discussing animal communication, and today I want to focus on a fascinating example: the dance language of honeybees. When a forager bee discovers a rich source of nectar, it returns to the hive and performs a series of movements on the vertical surface of the honeycomb. These movements, called the waggle dance, convey information about the distance and direction of the food source. The direction is indicated relative to the sun's position, and the distance is encoded by the duration of the waggle phase. For example, a longer waggle run means the food is farther away. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that bees can also adjust their dance based on previous experiences, such as avoiding a site that was once dangerous. This suggests a level of flexibility and learning that was previously underestimated. However, not all bees perform the dance perfectly; younger bees often make errors, but they improve with practice. So, the waggle dance is not just a fixed signal but a dynamic behavior shaped by both innate abilities and environmental feedback.
❓ Pregunta What does the professor imply about the waggle dance of honeybees?
A. A. It is a simple, instinctive behavior that does not change over time.
B. B. It primarily communicates the quality of the nectar, not its location.
C. C. It shows flexibility, as bees can modify their signals based on experience.
D. D. It is only performed by older bees that have had years of practice.
✅ Respuesta correcta
C. It shows flexibility, as bees can modify their signals based on experience.
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
