Listen to part of a lecture in a biology class. The professor is discussing the behavior of a type of bird called the European starling.
Professor: So, we've been talking about animal behavior and how it's influenced by both genetics and environment. Today, let's consider the European starling, a bird known for its remarkable vocal abilities. Starlings don't have a single innate song; instead, they learn their songs from other starlings in their social group. This is called vocal learning. What's interesting is that the songs can vary greatly between different populations, almost like regional dialects. A starling raised in isolation, without hearing other starlings, will produce a simplified, abnormal song. However, if that same bird is later exposed to recordings of starling songs, it can gradually improve its own song, but only if the exposure happens during a critical period early in life. After that window closes, learning becomes much more difficult. So, this illustrates a key principle: while the basic capacity for song is innate, the specific song itself is shaped by learning and social interaction, and timing is crucial.
❓ Question What does the professor mainly illustrate with the example of the European starling?
A. A. The role of genetics in determining the exact song of a starling.
B. B. The importance of a critical period for vocal learning in starlings.
C. C. The differences between starling songs and songs of other birds.
D. D. The negative effects of isolation on all animal behavior.
✅ Correct Answer
B. The importance of a critical period for vocal learning in starlings.
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
